MANILA: Four years after the signing of the US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the construction of the first major project under the military deal is finally pushing through.
On Tuesday, Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and US Ambassador Sung Kim led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) warehouse that will be used to house equipment and supplies critical to the two countries’ ability to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian crises in the region.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, home of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) 5th Fighter Wing and located 40 miles northwest of Manila.
Ambassador Kim said that the occasion was a compelling testament to the Philippines’ and US’ “continued dedication and commitment” to its partnership and friendship.
“For seven decades, our alliance has made great contributions to regional peace, prosperity and security. EDCA will enhance our nations’ capabilities to do more, better and faster,” said the envoy.
EDCA projects, he said, would increase the ability to respond to complex challenges such as terrorism and transnational crimes, as well as humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
“The first project here will allow us to pre-position critical supplies and equipment in a consolidated location, thereby reducing our response time significantly,” Kim said.
“And as we break ground today for the very first major EDCA project, we already look forward to continuing to work closely with the Philippines government for future EDCA projects at the five agreed locations,” he said.
Aside from Basa airbase, the other locations where American forces can have access under the 10-year defense pact are Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City, Camp Bautista in Palawan, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro.
Calling the EDCA a “pact between equals,” Kim said: “The Philippines of course will retain full control of all EDCA facilities.”
Lorenzana said that the EDCA was “a demonstration that the two nations are interested in long-term solutions to shared problems.”
“It provides a framework through which both the Philippines and the United States will approach the evolving security challenges,” he said.
As the EDCA allows for an increase in training opportunities for US and Philippine forces, Lorenzana said both countries could look forward to the increased inter-operability of forces and their improved ability to respond to humanitarian crises affecting the Philippines.
“We are truly thankful that the EDCA supports our government’s goal of promoting the long-term modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through development of certain facilities and bases such as here in Basa,” Lorenzana said, adding that the EDCA also helps the AFP in performing its roles in maritime security, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Lt. Gen. Galileo Kintanar, Philippines Air Force chief, said that what made the event more significant was that it was done in Basa, “which will be operational as a fighter base later this year.”
“Given our country’s perennial challenges in national calamities such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and floods, this groundbreaking project is indeed a very welcome development,” he said.
He said that the Air Force intended to use the facilities to enhance inter-operability, capacity-building for external defense, enhancing maritime security, maritime domain awareness and HADR.
The EDCA, which allows increased US military presence in the Philippines, was signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg in April 2014, hours before President Barack Obama arrived in Manila for a state visit.
