By Alec Go
The Philippines and the United States (US) have agreed to establish four new locations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that will give way to swift humanitarian support and cooperation, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced.
The DND said this is part of the plan to accelerate EDCA’s full implementation, along with the “substantial completion of the projects” in the current five EDCA sites which have a $82 million funding.
“The addition of these new EDCA locations will allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges,” it stated.
It noted that the funding for infrastructure investments in the existing EDCA sites “are supporting economic growth and job creation in local Philippine communities.”
“The United States and the Philippines have committed to move quickly in agreeing to the necessary plans and investments for the new and existing EDCA locations,” it said, as it expressed hope for opportunities and ties expansion through the new sites.
The EDCA is part of the Philippine-US partnership that supports combined training, exercises, and forces interoperability.
“Expansion of the EDCA will make our alliance stronger and more resilient, and will accelerate modernization of our combined military capabilities,” the DND said.
A similar statement was also posted at the US defense department.
DND officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III on Thursday, a move aimed at boosting the US-Philippine alliance.
“The United States will continue supporting the Philippines’ efforts to ensure peace and security in the country and the #IndoPacific,” the US Embassy said in a post.
Austin also met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and other Cabinet secretaries, and visited Filipino troops in Zamboanga. – gb
