Armed Forces Chief Bartolome Bacarro confirmed on Monday that the US and the Philippines are eyeing to set up additional facilities in five military camps in the Philippines under a key defense pact that allows rotational deployment of US troops and military equipment.
This brings to 10 the number of training facilities that the Philippine and American armed forces would like to build under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was signed in 2014 to allow US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities but without permanent basing.
In an interview, Bacarro said the five new locations were as follows: two in Cagayan, one in Palawan, one in Zambales, and one in Isabela.
“These five sites were mentioned during the discussions by the technical working group, but these will be subject to the approval of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense,” Bacarro said, adding that the implementation may take some time because it is still “subject to approval” by both parties.
The US and Philippine governments have earlier identified the initial five EDCA sites in Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nuevo Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
For his part, Defense Acting Secretary Jose Faustino Jr. clarified that the US troops would not build permanent military bases, but training facilities mostly meant for humanitarian assistance for disaster relief (HADR) operations.
“Our Constitutions prohibits the presence of US military base in the country, especially nuclear, nothing of that sort. Those weapons of mass destruction definitely we will not allow it,” Faustino pointed out, adding that such presence must first get the nod of the Philippine government.
Asked for comment regarding the start of building the new sites, Bacarro said the process might take some time because the previous five predetermined sites have yet to be completed.
“That is still for 2023, and we are still waiting for the completion of the previous EDCA projects before we commence on the new ones,” he said.
The Filipino and American troops have stepped up training exercises in the past amid growing regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea.
File photos courtesy U.S. Navy
