The Armed Forces of the Philippines supports the decision of the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, designating 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 as the new EDCA sites.
The new EDCA sites are strategic in the AFP's thrust to strengthen its capacity to protect the people and the state, advance our national interests, and enhance the country's disaster response capability. EDCA will give us the needed infrastructure to develop our force in line with our acquisition of modern equipment.
We shall closely coordinate with our US counterpart to realize these objectives. We also appreciate the US' commitment to prioritize the needs of our local communities and hope to do our share of bringing our alliance closer than ever to the benefit of the Filipino people. ///
