Says projects to spur economic growth
THE United States Department of Defense (DOD) said it will “rapidly pursue” projects at four additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which were announced by Malacañang on Monday.
“The Department of Defense will work in lockstep with the Philippine Department of National Defense and Armed Forces to rapidly pursue modernization projects at these locations,” the DOD said in a statement issued late Monday.
The four new EDCA sites are Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba renewed his opposition to the inclusion of two areas in the province in the new EDCA sites.
The four are in addition to five EDCA sites approved during the Aquino administration.
These are the 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.
In February, US and Philippine defense officials announced that the Americans have allocated $82 million (about P4.4 billion) for infrastructure investments at the five original EDCA sites.
“The Department intends to expand funding on top of the $82 million we have already allocated toward infrastructure investments at the existing EDCA sites,” the DOD said.
It said the EDCA “investments” will not only support “alliance commitments” but will also “spur economic growth and job opportunities in their respective provinces.”
“The United States is committed to ensuring its activities around EDCA sites are responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities, and we will continue to consult closely with the Philippines on new opportunities that serve our shared interests,” it said.
The DOD said the US and the Philippines have stood “shoulder-to-shoulder as friends and allies for more than seven decades, unwavering in our treaty commitments and our shared vision for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous region.”
“The strides we are making to expand the EDCA and modernize the alliance will ensure this vision endures far into the future,” the DOD also said.
The 2014 EDCA agreement allows the Americans to pursue in the agreed sites various activities, including 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.
The agreement also permits the US to preposition and store defense equipment, supplies and materiel, including, but not limited to, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief equipment, supplies and materiel.
CAPACITY TO PROTECT
Armed Forces spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the four new EDCA sites “are strategic in the AFP’s thrust to strengthen its capacity to protect the people and the state, advance our national interests, and enhance the country’s disaster response capability.”
“EDCA will give us the needed infrastructure to develop our force in line with our acquisition of modern equipment,” he said.
Aguilar said the AFP will be coordinating with US military officials so the objectives under the EDCA agreement will be met.
“We shall closely coordinate with our US counterpart to realize these objectives. We also appreciate the US’ commitment to prioritize the needs of our local communities and hope to do our share of bringing our alliance closer than ever to the benefit of the Filipino people,” said Aguilar.
In February, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and DND officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito announced in Camp Aguinaldo that President Marcos Jr has approved four additional EDCA sites. They declined to name the locations, pending consultations with local officials.
Days later, Mamba expressed opposition to the possible inclusion of Cagayan as an EDCA site. Last year, a military official said the Americans wanted five new EDCA sites – two in Cagayan, one in Isabela, one in Palawan and Subic, Zambales.
Yesterday, Mamba said, “As I previously said it is the President’s call but I disagree and continuously oppose EDCA sites in Cagayan because they are magnets of attack by US adversaries due to the presence of foreign forces (US Armed Forces).”
Mamba said he hopes the President would reconsider his decision to include the two areas in Cagayan as EDCA sites.
He also said that Cagayan provincial government was not informed or consulted before the national government decided to include the two Cagayan areas as EDCA sites.
Asked if he has plans to bring the matter to the Supreme Court to stop the inclusion of Lal-lo and Sta Ana as EDCA sites, Mamba just said: “We’ll study it.”
President Marcos last month said he has talked with officials of local government units opposed to having EDCA sites in their areas, and explained to them the importance of the sites “and why it will actually be good for their province.” He said it seemed they understood. He said “those who had interposed some objections… have come around to support the idea of an EDCA site in their province.”
