Armed Forces Chief General Andres Centino on Wednesday inspected the facilities at the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Balabac, Palawan.
According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras,” facilities like runways, which are contained within the 300-hectare Balabac island airbase, can be used by both the military and civilians in Balabac.
The storage or warehouse of humanitarian assistance, disaster response equipment, supplies, and barracks for American and Filipino soldiers will also be built in the area.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is financing the construction of the airstrip, which will be open for commercial air traffic.
Meanwhile, the island’s Narciso del Rosario Naval Station is also being eyed for an EDCA site once a larger pier is built for use by American and Filipino warships.
“Come up with the facility or capability to at least detect vessels coming in and out. Before we even start planning to defend, ‘yun ang unahin natin kung sino yung pumapasok, if these are hostile or friendly forces,” said AFP Chief of Staff, General Andres Centino Jr.
Centino subsequently toured other EDCA projects within the Antonio Bautista Airbase, such as ammunition and fuel storage projects that will be used in future joint military exercises.
Before this, Centino had already inspected three new EDCA sites in Luzon, two in Cagayan, and one in Zambales.
In Puerto Princesa, some modern devices of the Philippine Air Force were seen. These will be used for surveillance and patrolling in the West Philippine Sea without using planes and ships. —Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
AFP chief visits EDCA site in Palawan
Source: Balita News
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