THE commander of the US Navy ship that docked in Cebu over the weekend made a courtesy call on Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday.
Commander Homer Denius of the USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) said the the purpose of the visit to Cebu “is to continue to strengthen our relationship with the Philippines” and that it was scheduled months before the Scarborough Shoal standoff.
The US Navy ship, which arrived on Saturday with at least 300 marines on board will have a five-day goodwill visit here before returning to San Diego on May 31.
Thirty Navy men will help repair and clean up three public schools in Lapu-Lapu City as part of the national Brigada Eskwela program.
The USS Pearl Harbor, an amphibious landing ship, carries 22 US officers, 356 enlisted personnel and more than 300 Marine personnel.
A soccer game will be held with Philippine Air Force personnel tomorrow./correspondent carmel loise matus