Inanunsyo ng Malacañang nitong Lunes, Abril 3, ang apat na lokasyon na itinuturing na “suitable and mutually beneficial” na maging karagdagang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites at maaaring gamitin umano para sa humanitarian at relief operations tuwing may mga kalamidad.
Sa pahayag ng Malacañang, ibinahagi nitong ang nasabing apat na lokasyon na tinitingnan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ay ang mga sumusunod:
- 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
Eastern Samar, niyanig ng magnitude 4.0 na lindol
Sa isang Army event noong nakaraang buwan, sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. na natukoy at napagkasunduan na ng Filipino at American officials ang apat na bagong site at malapit nang magsagawa ng pormal na anunsyo hinggil dito.
“The four extra sites will be scattered around the Philippines, but the main goal is to defend the country’s eastern coast, the President said, noting the Philippines’ continental shelf on Luzon’s eastern side was also put into consideration,” anang Malacañang
“To overcome opposition from some local government units (LGUs) not keen on hosting US forces and equipment, the President said he talked to the officials of those LGUs and explained the importance of the EDCA sites in their jurisdictions,” dagdag nito.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong na hindi magiging base militar ng Amerika ang EDCA sites, bagkus ay gagamitin umano ang mga ito bilang mga storage at warehouse facilities para sa military logistics.
“President Marcos granted in February US troops access to four more Philippine military camps on top of the five existing locations under the EDCA,” anang Malacañang.
Nakatakda rin umanong magsagawa ang mga puwesa ng Pilipinas at Amerika ng kanilang pinakamalaking military exercise ngayong buwan ng Abril.
Inanunsyo rin ng Pentagon na nagkasundo na ang United States at Pilipinas na repasuhin ang buong hanay ng kanilang maritime cooperation sa 2 + 2 meeting sa Washington ngayon ding buwan.
