Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 1) — A senator said the scheduled meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his counterpart Joe Biden should emphasize the need to improve the Philippines and United States’ economic ties and provisions under the two countries’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
“Let’s convince the United States to not only offer to buy more Philippine products but to actually buy more Philippine-made products,” Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday.
Marcos arrived in Washington on Sunday for a five-day official visit.
In his departure statement in Manila, Marcos said he aims to forge an “even stronger” bond with the United States through his bilateral meeting with Biden.
Aside from economic cooperation, Pimentel said the chief executives should also discuss possibly reviewing the terms under EDCA to give more authority to Filipino officials when it comes to checking what is being stored in Manila’s bases being used by American troops.
“There should be more transparency,” the senator said. “‘Wag natin itrato na as if para silang sovereign areas, restricted areas which we cannot check.”
[Translation: Let’s not treat them as if they are sovereign areas, restricted areas which we cannot check.]
There are currently nine EDCA locations across the country following the addition of four more in the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana town, Cagayan; the Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu town, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Once completed, American troops could be indefinitely stationed at the sites on a rotational basis and could use them as storage facilities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said that Marcos is expected to promote Manila’s economic agenda, boost cooperation in various areas, and raise security issues during his April 30 to May 4 visit.
