MANILA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States and the Philippines have officially completed the first major project under the new U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014.
The United States is working closely with the Philippine government on future EDCA projects at four other locations - Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija province north of Manila, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro province in the southern Philippines, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu province, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.
Last Tuesday, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim cut the ribbon on the first facility at Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga province, north of Manila.
Under the EDCA, U.S. military personnel in the Philippines are to be deployed on a rotational basis.
Philippine bases, including U.S.-built facilities and improvements, are to be utilized rent-free by the Americans but owned by the Philippines. The accord allows for the increased presence of U.S. forces, ships, aircraft, and equipment in the Philippines and greater U.S. access to Philippine military bases.
The Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States. However, the Philippine constitution bars the presence of foreign military bases, troops, or facilitates on Philippine soil.
