30 Jan US to Begin Construction in PH Camps Including Lumbia Airfield
Original Image Source: Reuters
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed on January 26, Thursday that the Americans will commence their constructing facilities this year on the selected camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
According to a report from The Manila Times, the camps will be at Lumbia Airfield located in Cagayan De Oro, Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Bautista Air Base in Palawan.
Lorenzana told reporters during a news briefing that the Pentagon will start constructing some facilities in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) – this allows the US to use temporary facilities in the country, chosen camps. He added that the first camp will be possibly developed in Basa.
Runways, facilities for US troops and storage areas for their equipment will also be established.
The defense chief clarified that US troops can leave the facilities and come back again as stated in the Edca.
The US facilities are not established for military use but for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) according to a military official. This includes power generators, lightings, water purifiers, mobility equipment like trucks, heavy lifters, and forklifts among others.
Brig. Restituto Padilla Jr. said that the storage of equipment right now is limited to HADR equipment, so no tanks, no warfighting equipment for the moment.
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