AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (PNA file photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)
MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country are now proving their worth in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.
"We have, in fact, already used some of our EDCA sites for actual HADR, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. If you recall, last year when there were typhoons that hit the northern part of the Philippines, immediately, we were able to bring relief goods to the places that were badly hit by the typhoon," Brawner said in a press briefing Thursday afternoon shortly after the Mutual Defense Board - Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting with US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) head Admiral Samuel Paparo at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City.
"And we used Lal-lo Airport as one of the staging sites. That's one example of the use of our EDCA sites for humanitarian assistance and disaster response."
Aside from HADR missions, he said, EDCA sites can be used by Filipino and American forces for "mutual training."
"You will note that in some of our EDCA sites, training facilities are heavy. And we have also (had) the experience of using these facilities for joint training, particularly in Fort Magsaysay for the 'Balikatan' exercise," Brawner said.
Signed in 2014, the EDCA provides for Filipino and American soldiers to train together and allows the US to build facilities and preposition supplies, and equipment inside strategically located bases in the country.
The five initial EDCA sites are the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
Meanwhile, the additional four sites are Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Commitment to rules-based order
Following the conclusion of Thursday's meeting, the Philippines and the United States have committed to upholding a rules-based international order.
This also includes maintaining freedom of navigation, and promoting regional security and stability.
The agenda of this year's meeting focused on enhancing joint training exercises, defense capability building, maritime security cooperation, and other areas of shared interest.
"Today’s (Thursday) meeting is one of the major activities which the Philippines and the U.S. conduct bilaterally. Throughout the years we (progressed) a lot, and I can say that the future between the Philippines-US alliance through the USINDOPACOM is very bright," Brawner said.
The MDB-SEB meeting is an annual bilateral engagement between the AFP and USINDOPACOM aimed at discussing mutual defense concerns, enhancing military cooperation, and strengthening the security partnership between the Philippines and the United States.
It also serves as a vital mechanism for advancing the mutual defense and security interests of the two nations. (PNA)
