Only HADR equipment to be stockpiled in EDCA selected bases

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 14): Only HADR equipment to be stockpiled in EDCA selected bases

US forces, allowed access to Filipino military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), are only allowed to stockpile humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) equipment.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Wednesday.

"The storage of equipment right now is limited to HADR equipment, so no tanks, no war fighting equipment for the moment," he added.

This is to allow quick response of Filipino and American units in case another disaster or calamity strikes the country in the near future.

HADR equipment to be stockpiled include water purifiers, generators, lighting equipment, trucks and other heavy lift vehicles, the AFP spokesperson pointed out.

Possible Filipino military bases to be opened under the EDCA include Fort Magsayay in Nueva Ecija; Crow Valley in Tarlac; Basa Air Base, in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu; Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu; Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz; Naval Station San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales, Antonio Bautista Airbase, Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan De Oro and Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said the EDCA, which was declared constitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) last Jan. 12, will help boost Philippine maritime security and HADR capabilities.

"The DND welcomes the ruling of our SC declaring EDCA constitutional. With this development that builds upon our mutual defense treaty, we look forward to advancing our defense modernization and strengthening maritime Security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities," he added.

The SC, Tuesday, voting 10-4-1, declared EDCA as constitutional.

It also upheld the position of the government that the EDCA is an executive agreement and does not need the Senate concurrence.

In the same vein, Galvez said this puts the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a better position to improve inter-operability with the US military aside from improving the AFP's capabilities.

Finalized after eight rounds of talks that began in August 2013, EDCA, which signed in 2014, allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to construct facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=846371