THE United States (US) and the Philippines announced Thursday, February 2, 2023, their plans to accelerate the full implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) with the deal to designate four new agreed locations in strategic areas of the country and the substantial completion of the projects in the existing five agreed locations.

The Edca is a key pillar of the US-Philippine Alliance that supports combined training, exercises, and interoperability between the two countries’ forces.

“Expansion of the Edca will make our alliance stronger and more resilient, and will accelerate modernization of our combined military capabilities,” the US Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.

It added that the addition of the new Edca locations will allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines and respond to other shared challenges.

The US has allocated over $82 million toward infrastructure investments at the existing five sites under the Edca.

The US Embassy said the US is proud that these investments are supporting economic growth and job creation in local Philippine communities.

The US and the Philippines have committed to move quickly in agreeing to the necessary plans and investments for the new and existing Edca locations.

“The US-Philippine Alliance has stood the test of time and remains ironclad. We look forward to the opportunities these new sites will create to expand our cooperation together,” the embassy added. (PR)