THE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) announced that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) site at Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City will play a key role not only in joint defense activities but also in humanitarian and disaster response (HADR) efforts across Mindanao.
The Edca, signed in 2014, allows US troops to train alongside their Filipino counterparts and to construct facilities and preposition equipment within select Philippine military bases.
Currently, there are nine identified Edca sites across the country: Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro.
During the Davao Peace and Security press briefing held Wednesday, July 24, 2025, at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, EastMinCom spokesperson Lt. Col. Salvacion Evangelista said that Edca sites are being prepared to support disaster operations, not just in Luzon, which is currently reeling from Typhoon Crising, but also in other parts of the country, including Mindanao.
Evangelista clarified that directives were already in place instructing the use of Edca facilities as operational centers for mobilizing aid and resources. She emphasized that the Lumbia Air Base — located within the 4th Infantry Division's jurisdiction, could serve as a strategic staging ground for coordination with various agencies and delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Evangelista reiterated the announcement by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who said on Tuesday that military sites under Edca would be tapped as vital hubs for delivering humanitarian assistance in response to widespread flooding and monsoon rains.
In a separate statement, Brawner noted that the AFP was actively working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that rescue and relief efforts remain coordinated and efficient. According to him, the prepositioning of rescue tools and relief supplies at Edca sites would significantly improve the military’s response speed — especially in remote and hard-hit areas — where time could mean the difference between life and death.
Brawner also said this initiative is in line with the directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as relayed through Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
When asked whether U.S. troops would be directly involved in distributing aid, Evangelista clarified that American forces would not participate in frontline disaster relief. She explained that Filipino soldiers, particularly ready reserve units, are fully prepared to take the lead in HADR operations.
The EDCA sites, she added, would serve primarily as logistical and operational bases, but any equipment already on-site could be used in response to emergencies.
She also pointed out that the AFP had long been prepared for disaster response, even prior to recent declarations, with both regular and reserve forces consistently on standby for emergency deployment.
General Brawner further acknowledged that the AFP’s partnership with the United States has strengthened the country’s capacity for rapid response. He mentioned that the AFP is closely coordinating with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to ensure operational interoperability, especially in the use of shared infrastructure and transport assets.
He emphasized that the decision to utilize Edca sites for HADR operations is not merely logistical, but a reflection of the military’s commitment to delivering swift and effective aid to Filipinos in need. He described it as a strategic use of the country’s defense alliances and infrastructure to uphold national resilience. DEF