New pact to boost PHL's maritime security –US envoy

The United States is hoping that the framework agreement that will legalize the rotational presence of its troops in the Philippines will be signed soon.

In an interview aired on GMA News' “24 Oras” Monday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said such agreement—currently the subject of negotiations between the two countries—would boost the Philippines' maritime security.

“We want to help the Philippines as a treaty ally as it builds its minimal credible defense, as it builds its ability to do maritime security, maritime domain awareness and build greater capacity in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief,” Goldberg said.



Both parties are hoping that the agreement will be signed before US President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to the Philippines in April, the report said.

The negotiations, meanwhile, are being held amid the simmering territorial dispute between the Philippines and China regarding ownership of some parts of the vast South China Sea.

Manila took a bold step last year when it initiated an arbitration process under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to try to declare as “illegal” China’s nine-dash claim, which covers nearly the entire resource-rich waters, where some parts are called by the Philippines as West Philippine Sea.

China on the other hand has resisted the Philippines’ move to let a UN body intervene in the disputes, saying the Philippines’ case was legally infirm and carried unacceptable allegations.

Goldberg, meanwhile, said the agreement will not result in American bases once again being established in the country.

“What's important to remember is that what we're talking about is an increased rotational presence and increased ability to work together under the terms of an agreement that we reach, and that's different than in the past because it doesn't involve bases,” he said in the “24 Oras” report. — KBK, GMA News