EDCA still in effect, US to start construction in 3 PHL airfields -- DND chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): EDCA still in effect, US to start construction in 3 PHL airfields -- DND chief

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US is still in effect as the Americans will start constructing some facilities in Basa Air Base, Pampanga, Bautista Air Base in Palawan and Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan De Oro.

This was disclosed by Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a briefing held at the DND Social Hall, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday.

"EDCA is still on and according to the Pentagon (US Department of Defense) they will start constructing some facilities in the EDCA chosen camps (like) Basa Air Base (in Pampanga), Bautista Air Base (Palawan) and Lumbia Airfield (Cagayan De Oro). I think the first camp that they will develop are facilities (that) are in Basa," he added.

Lorenzana said possible facilities that the Americans will set up are runways, buildings for their troops and storage areas for their equipment.

"They can leave the buildings there and leave and they can come back again, that is the idea of EDCA," the DND chief added.

While construction is expected this year, Lorenzana could not give an exact date on the start of the construction as it is dependent on the US budgetary allocations.

Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of these plans.

"(He) is okay with this, because he earlier said that (his administration) will honor all agreements that were entered into by the previous government," he added.

The DND earlier announced that EDCA with the US will continue but it will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-terror, and anti-narcotics operations.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=958452