Marcos: EDCA sites must be maximized for airlift amid Kristine

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites should be maximized in response measures amid the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine.

“Make full use of EDCA sites for the activities ng AFP, for the airlift,” Marcos said during a situational briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.

In a separate ambush interview, Marcos said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is continuing ''to monitor the situation so that we will be able to activate the EDCA sites, which were put there specifically for this purpose.''

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. guaranteed that the military has the available assets with lift capabilities as of this time. He said the government is also coordinating with ASEAN neighbors for assistance.

''I have already talked to our Singaporean Ambassador to marshal their capabilities for airlift and other manpower assistance that they can pitch in. And we will talk to our traditional partners in the next few days in anticipation of airlift needs and other rescue needs, Mr. President,'' Teodoro said.

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants American 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

Kristine already destroyed homes and displaced people in the Bicol Region ahead of its expected landfall, earlier reports said.

Floods washed away some houses in Libon, Albay and a hole was observed on a road in Daet, Camarines Norte amid torrential rains.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Kristine was located 200 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

The tropical storm was moving north northwestward at 30 kph, the weather agency said.

Kristine is expected to make landfall over Isabela on Wednesday evening. — RSJ/KBK, GMA Integrated News