Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stated that there are currently no discussions with the US government regarding an increase in the number of military sites for American troops in the country.
During a press conference at the Department of National Defense (DND) headquarters in Quezon City's Camp Aguinaldo, he clarified that there have been no specific talks about Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) facilities expansion.
“There was no discussion, no specific discussions, and there is nothing on my table to increase the number of EDCA facilities on Philippine bases,” the defense secretary said.
Teodoro emphasized the need to prioritize existing commitments before considering any expansion.
“You can’t bite more than what you can chew. We gotta make things work first before expanding [Edca sites],” he metaphorically stated.
In February, the Philippines and the US reached an agreement to designate four new sites in strategically important areas across the country to accelerate the full implementation of the EDCA.
These locations include Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Currently, the existing five EDCA sites are situated at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
The EDCA, which was signed in 2014, serves as a supplementary agreement to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). It permits US troops to rotate into the Philippines and establish and operate facilities in Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases.
Under the agreement, the US government will finance the construction of the new EDCA sites and the enhancement of existing locations. After the US troops have utilized these facilities, they will be handed over to the Philippine government.
