DND chief wants development of EDCA sites expedited

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Aug 3, 2023): DND chief wants development of EDCA sites expedited

DEPARTMENT OF National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Thursday there is a need to expedite development of all existing locations identified as Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites with the United States.

The DND chief saw first-hand the "operational limitations" caused by refueling Philippine and American aircraft engaged in disaster relief missions after the onslaught of the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Egay, using the barrel method, during a visit to the EDCA site in Lal-lo Airfield in Cagayan Thursday.

"Ngayon kung makikita niyo ang (now you are seeing the) operational limitation, nila ay nakikita nyo dyan ay barrels pa ang pagkarga ng fuel (caused by using barrels for refueling) for both Philippine assets and the United States air assets," Teodoro told a media interview.

In the case of Lal-lo Airfield, developing or building more facilities further allow the increase in "operational tempo," he added.

Teodoro said there is a need to expedite the development of five initial EDCA sites and the additional four –the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

The five initial EDCA sites are the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan De Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

Teodoro said he saw “the need to speed up the development of these Philippine bases in order to serve a total national security picture of our country and in the other four sites.”

"These are (located in) most disaster-prone areas actually where the four more EDCA sites are and they are also essential to the integrity of our credible deterrent posture and Philippine territorial security," he added.

He thanked the US for coming to the Philippines' assistance shortly after these weather disturbances which hit the country hard last week.

"We like to thank our United States partners for coming into our assistance because our air assets are totally committed not only here in Northern Luzon, in Central Luzon and in Mindanao also," he added.

He reiterated that facilities that will be set in EDCA sites are for "purely logistical" purposes.

"The EDCA is purely a logistical site of the United States to help us speed up operational tempo and response, these are non-offensive," Teodoro said.

He, however, clarified that Filipino assets that will be deployed or positioned in EDCA sites "are Philippine national security items for our territorial defense". ( Priam Nepomuceno)

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