AFP chief identifies 3 PHL bases American forces can use

From the Philippine News Agency (May 15): AFP chief identifies 3 PHL bases American forces can use
 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista has identified three military bases which American forces can use based on the provisions set by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

EDCA was signed by ranking US and Filipino military leaders on April 28.

These are Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; Naval Station San Miguel in San Antonio town, Zambales and Oyster Bay in Bahile, Palawan.

"I like to say the possibilities where I like them to be, for instance in Fort Magsaysay (Palayan City, Magsaysay), (Naval Station) San Miguel in Zambales and Oyster Bay (Bahile) Palawan. These are the bases we can offer them (as) these are also the bases we need to develop," Bautista said in an interview.

He clarified though that these are the facilities he deemed best in his opinion.

Bautista added that Oyster Bay is very important for the Philippines as it provides direct access to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.

"It is easier for us to support our patrols in the West Philippines Sea and it allows us to address the issues and threats in the West Philippines Sea.

Oyster Bay is now undergoing improvements which will allow it to accommodate large ships of the Philippine Navy like the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16).

Incidentally, Naval Forces West is based in Ulugan Bay which is around four kilometers away from Oyster Bay.

" We have a base there (Oyster Bay) but facilities are not that good yet. For example, we need to improve the pier, we need to improve living facilities and support facilities. Well, we have allocated funding for that maybe not enough if we want to develop it to be a real base for our Navy or bilateral exercises," the AFP chief stressed.

He added that giving Americans access to the said Filipino facilities will help in the development of the said areas.

"For example, in developing the airport or the pier, they can help do that. They have big aircraft, but for example, the air strip in Fort Magsaysay may not be able to accommodate this big aircraft for support facilities for this aircraft and so they may help us in that respect to develop that airport or air strip. It benefits the both of us; it allows us to have more activities, more training activities in those bases," Bautista concluded.

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