Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday mentioned that native governments in Cagayan and Camarines Sur are open to establishing new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement websites of their areas.
At a press convention in the course of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Basa Air Base Runway Rehabilitation in Pampanga, Galvez was requested in regards to the reported opposition of Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba to the development of EDCA websites within the province.
“We have already talked to Governor Mamba when he visited my office and he said for as long as the government decided he will abide with the decision of the President. And we have told them that we already decided and so he will conform with the decision,” he mentioned.
“Almost all of the mayors of Cagayan, I can show you the resolution of different mayors, they love to have EDCA sites in their area,” he added.
Galvez added that some elected officers in Camarines Sur are additionally open to constructing new EDCA websites within the province contemplating the realm is going through the Benham Rise.
“Even during our visit in Camarines Sur, even Governor [Luigi] Villafuerte and Congressman Villafuerte said we are open to the EDCA sites because it is fronting the Benham Rise,” he mentioned.
In February, the Philippines and the United States agreed to designate 4 new websites in strategic areas within the nation with the intention of accelerating the complete implementation of the EDCA.
Asked in regards to the hold-up in asserting the placement of those websites, Galvez mentioned, “Let’s wait for the announcement as we have agreed that it will be mutual understanding that we would have an agreement on announcing it.”
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III additionally attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
Galvez mentioned the rehabilitation of the two,800-meter Basa Air Base runway alone prices P1.373 billion excluding the enhancements at P153.776 million and the development of the wing operations heart at P10.112 million.
“As of this month, March 2023, the United States government has funded a total amount of $83.06 million or roughly P4.56 billion. To simply put, 23% of the 21 bilaterally approved projects are completed while other projects are in various phases of design and construction,” Galvez mentioned. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
