EDCA will protect Philippines: Marcos

PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. said the presence of U.S. forces in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will help protect the country and strengthen its defense amid the growing tension in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and the United States have recently announced four additional EDCA sites and these are in the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu town in Isabela province; and Balabac Island in Palawan province.

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.

In addition to the five existing sites, these new locations will strengthen the interoperability of the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces and allow the Pentagon to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including natural and humanitarian disasters.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it will work in lockstep with the Philippine Department of National Defense and Armed Forces to rapidly pursue modernization projects at these locations.

The Pentagon said it intends to expand funding on top of the $82 million it has 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, it said.

"The United States is committed to ensuring its activities around EDCA sites are responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities, and we will continue to consult closely with the Philippines on new opportunities that serve our shared interests. The United States and the Philippines have stood shoulder-to-shoulder as friends and allies for more than seven decades, unwavering in our treaty commitments and our shared vision for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous region. The strides we are making to expand the EDCA and modernize the alliance will ensure this vision endures far into the future," the Pentagon said.

Marcos said the goal of the EDCA is to defend the country’s eastern coast, noting the Philippines’ continental shelf on Luzon’s eastern side was also put into consideration.

He said the locations would not be used for offensive actions. “Hindi tayo papayag, ang Pilipinas, hindi tayo papayag na gamitin ang mga bases natin para sa kahit anong offensive na action. Ito ay para lamang tulungan ang Pilipinas, pagka nangangailangan ng tulong ang Pilipinas. Ang ginagawa lamang natin ay ipagpatuloy natin na pinapatibay natin ang depensa ng ating teritoryo, ang pagdepensa ng Republika,” he said.

According to Marcos, the additional EDCA sites give the United States, which has a robust post-World War II security partnership with the Philippines, “a chance to be able to come and help us in any way.”

“Lahat ito existing na ‘yan. Mayroon na talaga tayong… kampo diyan na dati pa. At ang kaibahan lamang at sa ginawa natin dito ay ‘yung EDCA ay binibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mga — our only treaty partner, which is the United States, we give the chance to be able to come and help us in any way, lalong-lalo na… nag-umpisa talaga ‘yan sa pagtulong sa mga disaster relief, ganyang klaseng bagay,” he said.

The two countries have been seeking to repair ties that were fractured under Marcos‘s predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Beijing’s growing assertiveness on Taiwan and its building of bases in the South China Sea have given fresh impetus to Washington and Manila to strengthen their partnership, which is underpinned by a mutual defense treaty. 

Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines’ maritime rights – in contrast to Duterte who was reluctant to criticize Beijing. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys, ignoring an international ruling that its claims have no legal basis. (Mindanao Examiner)