MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. na nakikita na ang kapakinabangan ng Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites sa bansa sa humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.
“We have, in fact, already used some of our EDCA sites for actual HADR, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. If you recall, last year when there were typhoons that hit the northern part of the Philippines, immediately, we were able to bring relief goods to the places that were badly hit by the typhoon,” pahayag ni Brawner sa isang press briefing nitong Huwebes ng hapon matapos ang Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting kasama si US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) head Admiral Samuel Paparo sa Philippine Military Academy sa Baguio City.
“And we used Lal-lo Airport as one of the staging sites. That’s one example of the use of our EDCA sites for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.”
Bukod sa HADR missions, aniya, magagamit din ang EDCA sites ng pwersang Pilipino at Amerikano para sa “mutual training.”
“You will note that in some of our EDCA sites, training facilities are heavy. And we have also (had) the experience of using these facilities for joint training, particularly in Fort Magsaysay for the ‘Balikatan’ exercise,” giit ni Brawner.
Nilagdaan noong 2014, nagbibigay-daan ang EDCA sa sanib-pwersang pagsasanay ng mga sundalong Pilipino at Amerikano, maging pagtatayo ng huli ng mga pasilidad at paglalagay ng supplies, at equipment sa loob ng strategically located bases sa bansa.
Ang limang inisyal na EDCA sites ay ang Cesar Basa Air Base sa Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation sa Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport sa Cagayan de Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base sa Puerto Princesa, Palawan; at Benito Ebuen Air Base sa Cebu.
Samantala, ang karagdagang apat na sites ay ang Naval Base Camilo Osias sa Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport sa Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz sa Gamu, Isabela; at Balabac Island sa Palawan. RNT/SA
