MANILA – The US Department of Defense (DOD) has announced the designation of four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) sites will allow the "seamless" response of American and Filipino forces to any "challenges" in the Indo-Pacific region.
The DOD will work closely with the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) and its Armed Forces to "rapidly pursue modernization projects at these locations," according to a statement posted on its website on Monday.
"In addition to the five existing sites, these new locations will strengthen the interoperability of the US and Philippine Armed Forces and allow us to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including natural and humanitarian disasters," the DOD statement emphasized.
The Philippines earlier named Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan as the four additional EDCA locations.
"The naming of these locations follows a February 2023 announcement in which the United States and the Philippines committed to designate four new EDCA sites in strategic areas of the Philippines," the DOD noted.
It also added that it intends to expand funding on top of the USD82 million it has already allocated toward infrastructure investments at the existing EDCA sites.
"In addition to supporting Alliance commitments, these investments will also spur economic growth and job opportunities in their respective provinces," the DOD statement said.
"And we will continue to consult closely with the Philippines on new opportunities that serve our shared interests," it added.
Earlier, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the EDCA sites would not be American military bases but storage and warehouse facilities for military logistics.
This month, Filipino and American troops are scheduled to hold their largest-ever military exercise.
The Pentagon announced that the United States and the Philippines have agreed to review the full range of their maritime cooperation in the 2 + 2 meeting in Washington DC also this April.
The EDCA, signed in 2014, allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, and the right to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing.
It is a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, which supports combined training, exercises and interoperability between Filipino and American forces.
(PNA)