EDCA to beef up AFP maritime, defensive capabilities

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 27): EDCA to beef up AFP maritime, defensive capabilities

Aside from intensifying humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capabilities, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States will help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) improve its maritime security and defensive capabilities.

This was stressed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla when asked what benefits the military will get from EDCA -- now that the agreement is declared constitutional with finality by the Supreme Court.

"Number one, (EDCA) will give the AFP an improved capability in responding to disasters. Number two, it will permit the Americans to help us improve our defense capabilities in the maritime environment and develop our maritime security awareness, giving us the capabilities to detect illegal fishers or poachers in our waters. This is aside from other help they can provide in our ongoing AFP Modernization," he said in Filipino.

Padilla also clarified that EDCA is not aimed at any particular country as the Philippines and the US has a long-standing Mutual Defense Treaty.

"We're not aiming at any country, it's just that we need to help each other in common interest areas," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=907856