THE United States is set to provide the Philippines an additional $1 million worth of humanitarian aid following six tropical cyclones that hit the country since last month.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, during a s courtesy call in Malacañang, told President Marcos Jr. the additional aid would be cursed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Food Programme (WFP) and would be on top of the “nearly 100,000 pounds of supplies that they delivered after typhoon `Julian.’”
He also said he has American troops in the country “to provide life-saving aid to the Filipino people,” and offered the US’ condolences and prayers to all those who have been affected by the six recent weather disturbances, the latest of which was “Pepito” which left seven dead as of yesterday.
Austin welcomed the use of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites for relief operations, including the deployment of personnel for rescue operations and food and relief items since the onslaught of severe tropical storm “Kristine” last month.
Last month, Marcos ordered the use of EDCA sites for relief and rescue operations in areas affected by severe tropical storm “Kristine” which hit the Bicol region, especially for airlifting relief goods, personnel, and equipment.
There are nine EDCA sites located in Philippine military facilities in the country. The EDCA, signed in 2014, allows American troops to preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels in the sites, mainly for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions and training.
Austin acknowledged Marcos’ “vision” to use the EDCA sites for calamity response efforts.
“You mentioned the EDCA sites. It was your vision a while back that these sites could be used to do exactly what you have described: prepositioning supplies and food and other critical elements in times of urgent need, and it would enable us to serve the Filipino people much faster and much more efficiently. And that your vision has come true. And so, we’re glad we’ve played a part in that,” he said.
Austin said he was looking forward to further discussions on the possible additional assistance that the US can offer and provide the Philippines “at this time of critical need”.
The President said that with the availability of the EDCA sites, the country was able to do a better job at responding to the series of typhoons.
“We were able to do a better job than we would have done otherwise because of the EDCA sites which we conducted a great many of our aid missions and to the benefit of those who had been isolated,” Marcos said.
“And so we have used to the great extent the EDCA sites and I just like to remind everyone of the wisdom behind that and how it has become extremely useful in the face of these uncertain effects of climate change,” he added.
The President also welcomed the signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) by Austin and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro yesterday in Camp Aguinaldo, which he said is an “important step for the continued interoperability of our two militaries.”
The agreement provides the framework for the exchange of classified military information between the Philippines and the United States.
