Department of National Defense OIC Carlito Galvez Jr. on Sunday thanked senators backing the designation of 4 new websites beneath the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the continuation of joint sea patrols.
In a press release, Galvez stated in DND’s behalf: “I thank our lawmakers for expressing their support for EDCA and the resumption of joint Philippine-US maritime patrols.”
Galvez was referring to Senators Francis Tolentino, Francis Escudero, and Sherwin Gatchalian, who shared their favorable sentiments concerning the protection and safety coverage developments within the nation.
According to Galvez, the three senators aired their help proper after his assembly together with his counterpart US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila early this month.
On the designation of 4 new EDCA websites, Sen. Tolentino was quoted within the assertion as saying:
“I am in favor of defense/security cooperation ‘upgrades’ with reliable allies like the United States, considering the evolving regional conditions and challenges, so long as this is anchored on solid constitutional foundations and for the greater interests of the nation and is evidently a good model. “
On the continuation of joint maritime patrols, Sen. Escudero was quoted as saying: The US has been the Philippines’ safety ally for the reason that late Forties and “…that there is no reason not to continue that and what the President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. saw is the interest of our country.”
Sen. Escudero additionally emphasised that joint patrols would assist cut back encroachments and acts of harassment within the disputed maritime space.
For his half, Sen. Gatchalian shared that joint patrols and different cooperative navy actions with the US would improve navy interoperability between the 2 nations, the DND stated.
“And this is not only about combat, one huge aspect is disaster preparedness. Our country is often hit by disasters and we all know the US is well equipped for such situations,” Gatchalian added.
Galvez pointed out that DND’s mandate is to secure and defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights such as the freedom of our our people to fish in our own waters.
“It is really encouraging that our distinguished senators are conscious of the significance of EDCA and joint maritime patrols to our nationwide curiosity. I thank them once more for his or her help,” Galvez stated. —LBG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
