Edca site gets another US-funded upgrade

US TOP ADMIRAL AT BASA Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right) gives US Indo-Pacific Command chief Gen. Samuel Paparo a tour of Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, one of the nine sites covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between Manila and Washington. —AFP PHOTO

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and US Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) chief Gen. Samuel Paparo on Wednesday visited Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, one of the nine sites covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca), as the Pentagon awarded a P1.8-billion contract for more upgrades in the base.

Brawner personally showed Paparo the current developments at the airfield, whose next improvements are expected to be completed in July 2026.

READ: No additional Edca sites – Marcos

Aside from Basa, the first set of Edca sites before the Marcos presidency are in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

In April 2023, the current administration added four more: Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.

For credible defense

Edca is a 2014 deal between Manila and Washington that allows American troops to be rotated for extended stays in the country and to build and operate facilities in Philippine bases.

In a statement quoting Brawner, the AFP said the Basa upgrade showed the government’s commitment “to strengthening our defense capabilities and ensuring that our forces are prepared to respond to any security challenge.”

“These developments are vital in our pursuit of a modern and credible defense force that can effectively safeguard our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Paparo, who met with President Marcos on Tuesday, was in the country for the annual meeting of the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board held in Baguio City on Thursday. He also attended an international military conference organized by Indopacom in Manila on Tuesday.

Biggest project

In November 2023, the upgraded P1.3-billion runway at Basa opened, making it the biggest project so far under Edca.

According to the US Naval Institute News, the Pentagon has awarded a $32-million contract, or about P1.8- billion, to Acciona CMS Philippines LLC to build a parking apron, shoulders and taxiway also at Basa.

The funding for the project came from the US Air Force’s 2021 ($3.5 million) and 2024 ($29.4 million) military construction budgets, the institute added.

On July 30, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in Manila that Washington would be providing $500 million in military assistance to the Philippines, its oldest military ally in the region.