Contents of PH-US defense agreement will be announced, Malacañang assures

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 16): Contents of PH-US defense agreement will be announced, Malacañang assures

Once the details are available, the contents of the proposed defense accord between the Philippines and the United States will be made public, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday.

The Philippines and United States panels recently concluded the eighth round of talks on the proposed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which will allow the US military greater access to Philippine military bases. The draft of the agreement, which seeks to enhance the country’s defense as well as disaster management capability, is expected to be submitted soon to President Aquino for review.

As it is an executive agreement, it will have to be reviewed and finally approved by the President, Coloma added.

Secretary Coloma had earlier said the President would ensure that the Constitution and the national interest are upheld in the proposed agreement.
“There is no deadline for the signing of the agreement,” he added.

Coloma brushed aside speculations that the United States has been dangling carrots to the Philippines, including its recent aviation safety upgrade by the US Federation Aviation Authority (FAA), to hasten the approval of the proposed security deal between the two countries.

“There are many interdependencies but I would like to say that the FAA issue is something that arose even before there was any report on opening further talks on Enhanced Defense Cooperation,” Coloma said.

Coloma asserted that the country’s aviation authorities addressed the air safety concerns raised by FAA, resulting in the “favorable outcome” announced last week.

And if the reports that US Department of Agriculture is considering more mango shipment from the country are true, Coloma said they welcome such news “with total appreciation.”

“We hope that it will result in beneficial – in even more beneficial outcomes to our farmers and to our industry. Let us be aware that there is an entire spectrum of relationships in the international field – both multilaterally and bilaterally,” he added.

http://www.mb.com.ph/contents-of-ph-us-defense-agreement-will-be-announced-malacanang-assures/