By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim on Tuesday led the inauguration of an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) multipurpose warehouse at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga.
“I am delighted that we have finally undertaken the first among the many activities and projects under the EDCA,” Lorenzana told reporters.
The warehouse will be used for the prepositioning of equipment and infrastructure needed for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, enabling the two countries to respond efficiently to both traditional and non-traditional defense and security challenges.
The defense chief said the HADR warehouse will surely boost the Philippines’ efforts to become disaster-resilient.
Meanwhile, Kim highlighted the strength of the partnership between the Philippines and the US.
“This project illustrates not only our commitment to the US-Philippine alliance, but also both countries’ dedication to peace and stability in the larger Indo-Pacific region,” the American envoy added.
Humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of the main aspects of cooperation between Manila and Washington under the EDCA, along with interoperability, capacity building, maritime security, and maritime domain awareness, among others.
