More EDCA websites to value taxpayers’ cash -Gabriela solon
The operation of 4 extra Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) websites within the nation will eat up extra Filipino taxpayers’ cash.
Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas issued the assertion, reiterating her opposition to extra navy operations of the United States within the Philippines.
Brosas mentioned that US forces and their protection contractors could have “unimpeded access” to the places and won’t pay any rental prices to the Philippine authorities.
“Pati tubig, kuryente at iba pang operational costs ng EDCA military bases ay gagastusan ng mamamayang Pilipino. This will unfortunately eat up more financial resources that should be allocated to social services and support for vulnerable sectors,” the opposition lawmaker mentioned.
“Ang masaklap dito ay hindi naman para sa interes ng mamamayang Pilipino ang operasyong militar ng mga Kano sa bansa kundi para sa interes ng Amerika na mang-upat ng gera sa Tsina at bentahan tayo ng sobra-sobrang kagamitang pandigma,” she added.
(The Filipinos would pay for all of the operational prices of EDCA navy bases. This will sadly eat up extra monetary sources that needs to be allotted to social providers and help for susceptible sectors. What’s worse is that its operations usually are not for the curiosity of the Filipinos however the curiosity of the Americans which is to meddle with the looming conflict in China.)
In the 2019 nationwide funds, the federal government allotted P124 million as EDCA counterpart fund, Brosas mentioned.
This was on high of different bills associated for the maintenance of shared EDCA places, she added.
“We are literally paying for what is essentially a gross violation of our national sovereignty, in line with the ruling regime’s puppetry to US interests in the region,” Brosas mentioned.
“Walang interes ang Estados Unidos na paunlarin ang ating defense posture dahil sa aktwal ay gusto nitong panatilihing palaasa ang Pilipinas sa mga ukay-ukay na kagamitan at armas na pandigma nito,” she ended.
(The United States has no plan to develop our protection posture as a result of what they need is for the Philippines to depend upon their second-hand weapons.)
Earlier this week, Malacañang introduced that the brand new EDCA websites can be situated at 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.
Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops entry to designated Philippine navy amenities, permits them to construct amenities, and pre-position tools, plane and vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited.
In February, the Department of National Defense (DND) introduced a deal that gave American troops entry to 4 extra bases in strategic areas of the nation, with the intention of accelerating the complete implementation of EDCA.
The DND mentioned these new EDCA places would permit extra speedy help for humanitarian and climate-related disasters within the Philippines, and reply to different shared challenges.
GMA News Online reached out to Malacanang and the Department of National Defense for his or her response and can publish it as quickly because it turns into out there.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
