FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – Divers from the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion of the Philippine Army’s Combat Engineer Regiment and their U.S. Army counterparts step-up their combined efforts during a port clearance operation which is part of the ongoing Exercise Salaknib Phase 2 at the Basco Port in Batanes.
The port clearing exercise started on April 6, 2024 and was projected to last around 60 days.
According to Army commanding general Lt General Roy Galido, the cleared port will enable sea vessels to utilize the port more efficiently, increasing trade opportunities for the local community and improving access during humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts.
