PH Navy, Apeco sign deal for naval base to guard Benham Rise

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Navy on Monday (Dec. 7) signed a deal allowing the construction of a naval air base in Casiguran, Aurora province, which would boost Navy presence near Philippine (Benham) Rise.

The Navy and Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco) signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of a 12,000-hectare “naval support facility and naval air detachment” in Casiguran, the Navy said in a statement.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo and Apeco president and CEO Israel Maducdoc signed the agreement at the Navy headquarters. This will be endorsed for approval of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Bacordo said the deal will pave the way for the Navy “to establish a foothold and significantly boost our long-term force projection to pursue the protection of the Philippines’ national maritime interests in the country’s northern frontier.”

The Navy said Casiguran is in the eastern part of Central Luzon, facing the Philippine Sea, which has been identified as one of the strategic areas covering the country’s eastern border.

It is close to Philippine Rise, a 13 million-hectare undersea region located east of Luzon.

The town hosted Philippine-American joint exercises in 2017.

The Navy said it is part of its mandate to protect Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity against foreign and domestic threats.

TSB