MANILA, Philippines — The United States earmarked $66.5 million (about P3.7 billion) for the construction of facilities in three existing Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country in 2023, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Tuesday.
The said projects include the construction of training, warehouse, and other facilities at Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; and Lumbia Airport Base Station in Cagayan de Oro, according to DND.
The DND said that the construction of said facilities is part of the commitment of the Philippines and the United States to further advance Edca.
“The Department is committed to accelerate the implementation of the Edca by concluding infrastructure enhancement and repair projects, developing new infrastructure projects at existing Edca locations, and exploring new locations that will build a more credible mutual defense posture,” the DND said in a statement.
“With the progress in Fort Magsaysay, Basa Air Base, and Antonio Bautista Air Base, the Department hopes to be able to complete other pending projects,” it added.
Aside from the mentioned areas, there are also existing Edca sites in Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
On Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines identified five new areas in the country where future Edca facilities would rise.
READ: Military names 5 more Edca sites
The Edca was signed in 2014 to address Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea and respond to natural disasters.
The agreement is meant to ensure the obligations of both countries to the Mutual Defense Treaty, which was signed on August 30, 1951. It states that both countries should support each other if an external party attacks either the Philippines or the United States.