Enhanced Defense

A BRIEF
DISCUSSION Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA)
Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)
Current EDCA Locations
1. Fort Magsaysay, Nueva
Ecija
2. Basa Air Base, Pampanga
3. Antonio Bautista Air
Base, Palawan
4. Mactan-Benito Abuen Air
Base, Cebu
5. Lumbia Air Base,
Cagayan De Oro

https://ph.usembassy.gov/enhanced-defense-cooperation-agreement-edca-fact-sheet/
What Are The Public Policy
Issues That EDCA Is
Supposed To Address?
National Security

• Modernization of the Philippines' military capabilities

Regional Stability

• Territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)

What Are The
Advantages And
Disadvantages Of
EDCA?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Advantages

• Allows the Philippines to have a stronger defense, working together with US forces
• AFP’s modernization, with the US military sharing their technology and expertise
• Improve disaster management and humanitarian relief capabilities
• Help to protect the Philippines' territorial waters and resources
• Allows the Philippines to
have a stronger defense,
working together with
US forces

Advantages
• AFP’s modernization,
with the US military
sharing their technology
and expertise

Advantages
 • Improve disaster
management and
humanitarian relief
capabilities

Advantages
 • Help to protect the
Philippines' territorial
Advantages waters and resources

Advantages
Disadvantages

• Vague provisions (custody of offenders, “exclusive jurisdiction”)

• Increased tensions particularly with China
• Sovereignty issues
• Livelihoods affected
• Violence Against Women, Children, LGBTQI+
Increased Tensions
• China viewing US presence as threat and
might enforce new actions in WPS
Unclear Provisions
• Custody of offenders during exercises
• “Exclusive Jurisdiction”
Sovereignty Issues
• US intervention and control
• Allowing 12,000 American troops on
Philippine soil
• US presence to become “Magnets of
War”
Livelihoods Affected
• Estimated 1 million people in Northern
Luzon to be affected
• No Sail Zones in Zambales
• No Sail Zones in 21 municipalities and
2 cities of Ilocos
Violence Against Women, Children,
LGBTQI+
• Prostitution
• Story of Jennifer Laude and Scott
Pemberton
• History of Abuse in places near US
Bases worldwide
What Are Other Policy
Options That The
Government Can Take?
Strengthen Alliances with Regional Partners (Japan,
Australia, and South Korea)

• Joint military exercises and intelligence sharing with our neighbors

• Collaborate to foster economic and social development in the region
• Leverage strategic location to promote regional cooperation and integration
Invest in Domestic Defense Capabilities and Modernize Military
Equipment/Infrastructure
• Allocate more resources to defense –
R&D, procurement, and maintenance of
military assets
• Work with local defense industries –
produce our own modern military
equipment
• Recruit and train more military personnel
in cybersecurity, intelligence, and logistics
• Develop and build essential industries
(metal, technology) to support
improvement in defense capabilities
Pursue and Assert Rulings in International Bodies
(UNCLOS)

• Claim ruled
legitimate; now
West Philippine Sea
• Reiterate
diplomatically for
territorial
sovereignty and
regional stability