DND chief dismisses opposition to US facilities on EDCA sites

From the Manila Times (Mar 3, 2023): DND chief dismisses opposition to US facilities on EDCA sites (By Franco Jose C. Baroña)

THE Department of National Defense (DND) dismissed opposition by local government officials over plans to establish additional United States military facilities on Philippine bases located in their respective provinces under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Friday that the Philippine government "is aiming to achieve an optimal number and locations of the EDCA sites to maximize their coverage of the Philippine archipelago."

"We understand the apprehensions expressed by our local chief executives about EDCA and our bilateral exercises. However, we must consider the volatile situation in which we operate and not view our country in isolation," said Galvez.

"The Philippines straddles a crucial location in the Pacific, and we have seaboards to the north, south, east and west. All of these must be monitored and protected," he added.

Last month, the DND announced the Philippine and US governments agreed to designate four new EDCA Agreed Locations. EDCA, along with the Visiting Forces Agreement, operationalizes the 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

The agreement will give US troops access to four more bases in strategic areas of the country, with the aim of accelerating the full implementation of the EDCA.

The DND has yet to name the locations of these new EDCA sites, but two sites in Cagayan, and one each in Palawan, Zambales, and Isabela had been mentioned.

While Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba was vocal in his opposition to the plan, saying he is not keen on having an EDCA site in his province, his vice governor, Melvin Vargas Jr., was more calm in his opinion on the issue.

Vargas told The Manila Times in an interview earlier this week that any plans to establish two more US military facilities in the province of Cagayan would require extensive public consultations.

"Formality wise we are still waiting for the scheduled consultations that will happen in our province. Hopefully different sectors will be invited. I will be one of those who will attend to be able to learn more about the plan," he said.

'Long overdue'

Signed in 2014, EDCA's implementation was delayed for various reasons, Galvez pointed out.

"EDCA was met with legal challenges, but the Supreme Court eventually upheld its constitutionality in 2016. Coupled with other technical issues, which have since been resolved, and the restrictions brought by the pandemic, the implementation of the projects under EDCA was delayed for many years," explained Galvez.

"Thus, the identification of new sites for additional EDCA Agreed Locations is actually long overdue."

DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong, meanwhile, said the locations of the additional facilities would be made public once all the necessary consultations, coordination, staff work and other requirements are completed.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/03/news/dnd-chief-dismisses-opposition-to-us-facilities-on-edca-sites/1881135