Spare Clark from Edca, gov’t urged

CLARK FREEPORT—A militant group headed by businessmen has asked the government to spare the Clark Freeport from use by US military forces under the controversial Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the Philippine and US governments.

Ruperto Cruz, head of the group Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement, said Clark should serve as the country’s main alternative international airport.

Subic Freeport is a better fit for military use, Cruz said.

The Philippines has offered eight facilities to the United States under Edca, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional.

“With China’s bullying, the Philippines needs the Edca to improve our defense and security. Subic ideally serves that purpose for now because its airport and seaport are still intact,” Cruz said.

Emigdio Tanjuatco III, president of the Clark International Airport Corp., said the facility had been used during annual military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

He said arrangements under Edca “shouldn’t get in the way of Clark development.”

The development of former US base lands in the country is overseen by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

As a seaport and airport, Subic and Clark are important facilities both for trade and national security, said Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer.

“We see Edca as enhancing both [those roles]. They shall remain as free ports that promote trade and they will serve as well our national security interest,” he said.

In Subic, the Armed Forces of the Philippines plans to renovate some of the old military barracks inside the former US naval station.

Roberto Garcia, chair of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, said the dilapidated military barracks located at the Upper Marine Amphibious Unit Camp in the free port would be rehabilitated this year to house some 500 AFP personnel.

The government will spend P80 million for the restoration of the facilities that include a 13-ha portion of the Subic Bay International Airport, where shipping giant Federal Express used to operate. Twelve trainer jets that the government bought from South Korea will be stationed in Subic.

But Casanova clarified that the 300-ha Air Force City occupied by the Philippine Air Force here is not a military camp but part of the economic zone.

After Mt. Pinatubo’s eruptions in 1991 damaged the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca town, the PAF moved many of its units to Clark.

“[Ensuring] national security is the basis of their stay in Clark,” said Casanova at a forum of the Capampangan in Media Inc. here.

Casanova said that for “logistics purposes,” the US military can build warehouses and hangars at the Air Force City under Edca.

Clark is one of the eight locations eyed for use under Edca. Tonette Orejas and Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon