The Philippine government has already identified the four new sites that United States (US) military forces would have access to under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday, March 22. However, the Chief Executive did not officially announce the locations of the sites because the government would still need to formalize the list. “We’ll make a formal announcement. But yes, they have been identified and we can already, we will . . . before I announce it, we’ll formalize it with our partners with the US too, so that sabay sabay naman ang ano, hindi natin i-preempt ang kanilang pina-plano (it’ll be at the same time, we won’t preempt what they plan),” he said on the sidelines of the 126th founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Marcos expounded that the sites would be “scattered” across the country, in the North, Palawan province, and “some further South.” Earlier reports quoted military officials identifying Cagayan, Zambales, Isabela, and Palawan as possible sites. “It is really to defend our Eastern coast pero meron ding (but there is also an) element that is there because of our continental shelf which is on the Eastern side of Luzon, so that’s somethign that we have to look out for,” he said. The Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau located near Aurora that extends from the Eastern Philippine Seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean, was successfully claimed by the Philippines as part of its extended continental shelf. Many believe the Benham Rise has metallic minerals, including sulfides like gold and copper, as well as petroleum. The expansion of EDCA, which would add four new sites to the existing five, was met with criticism from progressive groups and China, who questioned the strengthening of military alliance between the Philippines and US amid the rising tensions in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the President said his office has already reached out to local government units (LGUs) that have expressed concern over the EDCA expansion. “We explained to them why it was important that we have that and why it will actually be good for their province,” Marcos added. He shared that “they have come around to support the idea of an EDCA site in their province.” Earlier reports said the governors of Cagayan and Isabela are wary about EDCA sites in their respective provinces because of China’s tension with Taiwan.