The Philippines and the United States agreed to boost the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
DND announced on Thursday, February 2, that the two countries agreed on the designation of four new EDCA sites in strategic areas of the Philippines, and the substantial completion of the projects in the existing five agreed locations.
"The EDCA is a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, which supports combined training, exercises, and interoperability between our forces," DND said in a statement.
"Expansion of the EDCA will make our alliance stronger and more resilient, and will accelerate the modernization of our combined military capabilities," the department added.
DND did not divulge the locations of the four new EDCA sites.
The announcement came after Defense Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. met with his American counterpart, Sec. Lloyd Austin, in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
DND said that adding new EDCA locations 'will allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges'.
"The United States has allocated over $82 million toward infrastructure investments at the existing five sites under the EDCA, and is proud that these investments are supporting economic growth and job creation in local Philippine communities," the department said.
"The United States and the Philippines have committed to move quickly in agreeing to the necessary plans and investments for the new and existing EDCA locations," DND added.
