US not seeking permanent bases in PH, Pentagon says after EDCA sites identified

The United States insisted that it is not seeking permanent bases in the Philippines following the announcement of the locations of the four additional Philippine military facilities that may be accessed by US forces under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

In a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday (Manila time), Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized that the new "EDCA sites" would be for regional readiness and response against threats and disasters.

"Well, this is more about regional response, regional readiness. This is an arrangement that we have with the Philippines that goes back many years. And in -- is an investment in our cooperation with the Philippines in order to better -- for better interoperability," Singh said.

"Again, we do not seek permanent basing in the Philippines and this is just one additional aspect that will increase training between our two countries," she added.

Despite not seeking permanent bases in the Philippines, Singh said the additional EDCA sites would mean "an increase of rotational force in the region."

"This is more about supporting combined training, being able to respond to natural disasters, humanitarian disasters in the region but this is really about regional readiness," Singh said.

She further said the expansion of EDCA sites would make training with Filipino troops "more resilient."

Singh could not provide details yet as to how many American soldiers would be rotated in the sites and when the deployment and rotation would start.

The Presidential Communications Office announced that the new EDCA sites, considered "suitable and mutually beneficial," would be the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has described the additional sites as strategic choices.

Galvez said these were "collectively decided" by the Philippines and the United States and that the construction would begin "immediately."

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allows them to build facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited.

The five current EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. —VAL, GMA Integrated News