THE United States has earmarked $66.5 or around P3.8 billion for the construction of facilities in Armed Forces installations in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan de Oro City starting next year, according to the Department of National Defense.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said these projects will be pursued by the Americans in line with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the Philippines and the US in 2014.
EDCA, which seeks to bolster defense relations between the two countries, allows US to pursue activities at “agreed locations” for training, transit, support and related activities, refueling of aircraft, bunkering of vessels, temporary maintenance of vehicles, vessels, and aircraft; temporary accommodation of personnel; communications; prepositioning of equipment, supplies and materiel; deploying of forces and materiel and other activities approved by the two sides.
The two sides acknowledged in the agreement that prepositioning of equipment, supplies and materiel enhance their “individual and collective defense capabilities.”
There are currently five “Agreed Locations” under EDCA, namely, Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
Last Monday, AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro said the US has proposed the inclusion of five more AFP facilities added to the list — two in Cagayan, and one each in Zambales (specifically Subic), Palawan and Isabela. Bacarro said the proposal is still subject to the approval of the defense and foreign affairs departments.
“Currently, $66.5 million is earmarked for the implementation of approved EDCA projects at the Agreed Locations. These are projects that are slated for implementation in the next two years,” said Andolong.
“The projects include construction of training, warehouse and other facilities at Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, and Lumbia Airport Base Station in Cagayan de Oro,” said Andolong.
Andolong said the DND is committed to accelerating the implementation of the EDCA through the construction of these projects and enhancement and repair of existing infrastructures.
