Gen. Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), recently visited under-construction and completed infrastructure projects in two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Palawan near the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the military reported on Thursday, May 18.

(Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)

Centino first inspected the three-kilometer runway that is currently being constructed in the island of Balabac last Wednesday, May 17.

The construction of the runway was made possible by the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the “Tatag ng Imprastraktura Para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad” (TIKAS) program.

“Once completed, the airstrip is intended to service both military and civilian aircraft and is expected to boost military presence and detect intrusions in the strategic maritime routes,” Centino said.

Balabac Island is one of the four additional EDCA sites that is being developed by the Philippines and United States to hasten the implementation of the 2014 defense pact which allows Washington to rotate its troops in Manila, as well as build and operate facilities for both forces.

Aside from the runway, an HADR [humanitarian assistance and disaster response] warehouse, barracks, and other military facilities will also be constructed within the vicinity of Balabac airstrip.

(Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)

After this, Centino also visited the completed EDCA projects located at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

These included an HADR warehouse, an elevated fuel tank, and a command and control fusion center.

The Antonio Bautista Air Base is one of the five original EDCA sites established by the Philippine and US governments when the pact was signed nearly a decade ago.

Centino also dropped by the headquarters of the Palawan-based Western Command (WesCom) to check on the condition and morale of the troops.

“I would rely on you to do your job here in Western Command, making sure to do your duties to secure the area. I would also like to assure you that our national leadership has been supportive of our desire to really improve our capability to defend our territory,”

So far, there are nine identified EDCA sites that are being developed by the two countries to enhance their defense cooperation.

Aside from Balabac and Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, identified EDCA sites also include Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro, Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Isabela, Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan.

(Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)

Meanwhile, Centino was joined by Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada Jr. in visiting Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan on Thursday as part of the survey of ongoing military projects in the WesCom joint area of operations. 

They were accompanied by Lt. Gen Stephen Parreño, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), and Commodore Alan Javier, Commander of the Naval Forces West.

The delegation boarded Philippine Navy vessel BRP Mangyan which is deployed for maritime operations in the area.

Earlier that day, the CSAFP visited the Mt. Salakot Air Station in Brgy. Bagong Bayan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. 

The radar station is under the supervision of the 584th Aircraft Control and Warning Group of the PAF. The facility is home to the surveillance radar procured from Israel that covers most of the Western portion of the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone.