MANILA – Ranking officials of the Philippines and the United States will visit three Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Luzon on Wednesday.
In a statement Tuesday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson and US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino would visit EDCA sites in Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; and Basa Air Base, Pampanga.
"The leaders, accompanied by high-ranking AFP and US armed forces officers, will conduct an extensive tour of the completed EDCA projects at Basa Air Base. The tour will also provide an opportunity for the senior military officials to gain firsthand knowledge of the bases' potential for the development of key facilities to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations and modernization priorities of the AFP," Ileto added.
He said the visit to the EDCA sites is a prelude to the upcoming Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting slated on Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He added that these activities underscore the continued partnership and collaboration between the Philippines and United States militaries in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts.
"Gen. Brawner and Admiral Aquilino’s visit signifies the commitment of both AFP and US armed forces to further strengthen its cooperation, ensuring that both militaries are prepared and well-equipped to respond to evolving security challenges and humanitarian crises," Ileto said.
He noted that the AFP looks forward to sharing insights from this visit and the MDB-SEB meeting, which together contribute to the enduring partnership between the two nations. (PNA)
