Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) — The United States will allocate more than $100 million in infrastructure investments at new and existing Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites by the end of fiscal year 2023.
In a joint media briefing with US and Philippine officials on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said plans to operationalize the four new EDCA sites in Palawan and Northern Luzon will ensure that the two countries are “even better prepared for future crises.”
\”We’re proud of the investments we are making. By the end of FY (fiscal year) 2023, we expect to have allocated more than $100 million in infrastructure investments at the new and existing EDCA sites,\” the US official said.
Austin added that the investments will \”spur job creations and economic growth in local Philippine communities.\”
He also said the US has committed to \”swiftly finalizing\” Philippines-US Bilateral Defense Guidelines which chart the \”vision for alliance cooperation across all operational domains, space and cyberspace.\”
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Department of National Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr., who were also present in the media briefing, welcomed the US move to support the country through EDCA.
Meanwhile, Austin said he and Galvez agreed to redouble efforts to modernize both countries’ armed forces and strengthen their combined ability to resist armed attack.
As part of this, the US defense chief announced that they aim to complete a security sector assistance roadmap that will support the delivery of “ priority defense platforms” over the next five to ten years.
Austin said these include the delivery of radars, unmanned aerial systems, military transport aircraft, and coastal and air defense systems.
