PH, US to invest in rotational force posture under EDCA

The Philippines and the United States (US) have committed to invest in Washington’s rotational force posture under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder on Wednesday (US time) said Defense chiefs Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Lloyd J. Austin III had a phone call after the violent incident in Ayungin Shoal where one Filipino lost his thumb after being harassed by Chinese forces. 

“Both officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Philippine alliance in support of their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through cooperation with like-minded partners and bilateral initiatives to strengthen information-sharing, enhance the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and invest in U.S. rotational force posture under the EDCA,” he said in a readout.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that during the phone call between the Philippines and US Defense heads, Austin also reaffirmed the “ironclad commitment” of the US to the Philippines after the recent “dangerous actions” of China against the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal.

“Secretary Austin underscored continued U.S. support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights, and the two officials discussed the importance of preserving the rights of all nations to fly, sail, and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law allows,” Ryder said.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Manila refers parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.

Earlier this month, there were reports that US Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper drones are already operating at Basa Air Base in Pampanga, which is one of the EDCA sites. 

GMA News Online had reached out to concerned officials on the matter but they have yet to confirm the reports.

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allowing them to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels.

Currently, there are nine EDCA sites: 

• Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan
• Basa Air Base in Pampanga
• Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija
• Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu
• Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City
• Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan
• Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan
• Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela
• Balabac Island in Palawan

In April, US President Joe Biden requested an additional $128 million for infrastructure projects in 2025 including those located in the EDCA sites.

The additional budget is included in the US President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025 to Congress.

Based on the fact sheet released by the White House, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will have a new effort that will preposition humanitarian relief commodities at an EDCA site.

“Prepositioning of commodities, combined with strengthened Philippines’ humanitarian assistance and disaster response capacity, including for EDCA-hosting communities, will contribute to greater crisis resilience and more effective crisis response,” the fact sheet read. —VAL, GMA Integrated News