MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he has reached out to local government officials who expressed objections to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) in their areas.
“Yes,” Marcos replied when asked in an ambush interview after the Philippine Army anniversary event in Taguig City if he had reached out to local officials opposing the agreement.
“We explained to them why we have that and why it is good for their province,” he added.
Marcos said the local chief executives seem to have understood the agreement’s purpose. He also believes that the local leaders will start to accept and support Edca.
“Mukha namang naintindihan nila (It seems they understand now) because most of those who interposed objections, right now naiintindihan naman nila (they already understand), and they will come around to support the idea of an Edca site in their province,” he said.
Earlier, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba had expressed worries about the reported installation of the Edca facility in his province, stressing that the United States should not use the country, as he said the Western country is only after its interests in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Marcos also announced that the four new Edca sites will rise in the northern and southern parts of the country, as well as in Palawan.
To date, there are five predetermined Edca sites, and three of them are located at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is closest to the Kalayaan Group of Islands; Basa Air Base in Pampanga, the home of the Philippine Air Force’s fighter planes; and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the country’s largest military camp and a frequent location of Philippine-US military exercises.
The other two areas are Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
The Edca was signed by the Philippines and the US in 2014 to address Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea and respond to natural disasters.
READ: Military names 5 more Edca sites