CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. together with US Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency MaryKay Carlson, and Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C. Aquilino, will visit the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; and Basa Air Base, Pampanga, on September 13, 2023.
The leaders, accompanied by high-ranking AFP and U.S. Armed Forces officers, will conduct an extensive tour of the completed EDCA projects at Basa Air Base. The tour will also provide an opportunity for the senior military officials to gain firsthand knowledge of the bases' potential for the development of key facilities to support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations and modernization priorities of the AFP.
The visit to the EDCA sites is a prelude to the upcoming Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting scheduled to be held at Camp Aguinaldo on September 14, 2023. These activities underscore the continued partnership and collaboration between the Philippines and United States militaries in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts.
General Brawner and Admiral Aquilino’s visit signifies the commitment of both AFP and US Armed Forces to further strengthen its cooperation, ensuring that both militaries are prepared and well-equipped to respond to evolving security challenges and humanitarian crises.
The AFP looks forward to sharing insights from this visit and the MDB-SEB meeting, which together contribute to the enduring partnership between the two nations.///
