By CECN Quennie May Bumatay, NMCB 5 Public Affairs EOCN Mark Teri Bascon, NMCB 5, operates the Skid-steer to move earth and fill around the construction site as the battalion sconstruction civic action detail (CCAD) Philippines renovates a masonry classroom building for the Aplaya Elementary School, Puerto Princesa City. Photo by CECN Quennie May Bumatay Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 are renovating a building for the Aplaya Elementary School as part of a Construction Civic Activity Detail (CCAD) in Barangay Tagburos, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. In its current state, the 24 feet by 56 feet two-room masonry building has wood and plant-woven walls with a bare dirt floor. This project will greatly improve the building by installing prefabricated steel trusses, concrete columns, a corrugated metal roof, gutters, metal doors and a hardiflex drop ceiling. The Seabee detail will also stucco and paint the structure s exterior to match the other existing buildings at the school. According to school Principal Macaria Peloto Camacho, the finished project will have a significant impact to the neighborhood, particularly to the 651 students and 20 teachers who attend and work at the school. [caption id="attachment_3098" align="alignleft" width="620"] SW3 Helen Jocson, NMCB 5, cuts rebar as part of the Aplaya Elementary School building renovation project, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. Photo by CECN Quennie May Bumatay "The construction of new classrooms will greatly benefit the students, teachers and the entire neighborhood, said Camacho. She said the school currently has enough classrooms to accommodate all the students. We have to divide the classes into morning and afternoon session in order to have room for all the children in the neighborhood, she said. I am very grateful for all the work that the U.S. military has been doing for us. It is indeed a blessing for this community," said Jovelyn Mulato, a third grade teacher at the school. Seabees conduct CCAD operations to demonstrate U.S. commitment, develop enduring relationships, improve public infrastructure for the delivery of essential services, and strengthen local institutions with host and partner nations around the world. [caption id="attachment_3100" align="alignleft" width="620"] BU1 Terrell Harris and BU3 Brandon Shortridge, NMCB 5, shoot the elevations for the two-room school building renovation project for Aplaya Elementary School in Barangay Tagburos, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. Photo by CECN Quennie May Bumatay