BOOSTING COOPERATION. US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino (left) and AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. hold a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday (Sept. 14, 2023), shortly after the annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting. The two officials are looking to recommend the creation of more EDCA sites in the Philippines. (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – Ranking Philippine and American military commanders on Thursday said they would recommend the creation of more Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country.

“Gen. (Romeo) Brawner (Jr.) (Armed Forces of the Philippines chief) and I may make recommendations to our senior leaders for the consideration of additional sites but there is still work to do there before we get to that answer,” US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, shortly after the annual Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting.

Aquilino said these recommendations will be forwarded to their superiors.

“We are in discussions but everyone has a boss and we both have bosses, we’ll have those conversations I think in private and give our bosses some decision space on how they’d like to go forward,” he added.

Aquilino said another 63 projects in the nine approved EDCA sites were added aside from the 32 projects that were earlier approved.

“And (the) United States has identified investment of almost USD110 million to those sites to build capability capacity for the AFP to use everyday and for the United States to fall in when invited,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Brawner also said EDCA sites are located in existing AFP bases or camps and that these are being opened for shared use with their American counterparts.

“We believe that doing certain things together would bring more value, for instance training together so some of these EDCA sites would be designed specifically for joint training. Let me emphasize however that while the United States is spending for these EDCA sites through the implementation of several projects, I would like to say that the Philippine government is also spending for these EDCA sites sites primarily because these are our own camps and we have to maintain our camps, we have to make sure that our camps are liveable and of course sustainable,” the AFP chief noted.

The MDB and SEB, established in 1968 and 2006, respectively, form the framework which directs and enables defense and security cooperation between the US and the Philippine forces.

Meanwhile, Brawner said the successful conclusion of Thursday’s MDB-SEB meeting further demonstrates the “steadfast commitment of the Philippines and the United States in safeguarding our nation and the Indo-Pacific Region”.

He said this also highlights AFP’s dedication in addressing the dynamic and evolving challenges that confront the nation’s security including those caused by natural disasters and calamities.

“Just yesterday (Wednesday) Admiral Aquilino and I, together with Ambassador (Marykay) Carlson and top Filipino and US military officials visited the EDCA sites in Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; and Basa Air Base, Pampanga. We conducted an extensive tour of the completed EDCA projects and we were able to gain first-hand knowledge of the bases’ potential for the development of key facilities to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” Brawner said.

He added that this visit underscores the continued partnership and collaboration between the Philippines and United States militaries in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts.

“It signifies our commitment to further strengthen our cooperation, ensuring that both militares are prepared and well-equipped to respond to evolving security challenges and humanitarian crises,” Brawner said. (PNA)