US rebalance to Asia beneficial

From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 4): US rebalance to Asia beneficial

The Philippines needs support from the United States in order to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

In a speech after receiving his award from the Ateneo School of Government as Professorial Chair for Public Service and Governance, Del Rosario also said the country stands to benefit from the US rebalance to Asia, a move that is not only limited to defense and security cooperation but also encompasses economic arrangements and greater people-to-people exchanges.

He said Philippine-US relations have reached new heights and that this broadening and deepening relations is being positively viewed in the context of the US rebalance toward Asia.

Del Rosario hopes to see the increased rotational presence (IRP) framework agreement between the two countries completed at the earliest possible time.

He said the IRP is the policy which increases the presence of US forces in Philippine territory and is meant to support the development of a minimum credible defense posture through capability-building and combined activities.

He said it also entails high-impact, high-value joint exercises focusing on maritime domain awareness, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“The IRP is premised on mutuality of benefits and is in full accord with the Philippine Constitution,” he said.

He said several issues remain to be agreed upon after four rounds of negotiations on the IRP framework.

Del Rosario said the Philippines already benefitted from the overwhelming and timely provision of resources by the US in search, rescue and relief operations in areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

He noted that over 50 aircraft and ships, including over 1,000 marines and US soldiers, provided direct assistance on the ground to save countless lives.

“The immediate and comprehensive support of the US on humanitarian assistance and disaster response highlights the areas of cooperation included in the IRP framework,” he said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/us-rebalance-to-asia-beneficial/