LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES – CAGAYAN CHAPTER SUPPORTS EDCA

Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, April 20, 2023 –  Prior to the protests for the  Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Cagayan, the Cagayan Chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) had already signed a resolution expressing and manifesting their support for EDCA.

A resolution No. 05 series of 2023 dated February 15, 2023, stated the collective support of the mayors of the province of Cagayan for the establishment of a military base in the province in relation to ECDCA.

The presence of these new EDCA sites, according to the resolution, will allow for more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines and other shared countries.

Given the province of Cagayan’s strategic location, the resolution also stated that the league is considering the benefits it may bring to the province, particularly in terms of peace and security.

As a result, the league believes no reason not to express their collective and unanimous support for this effort of the national government.

Said resolution was signed by the mayors of Cagayan during the first regular meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Cagayan Chapter, held on February 15, 2023, at the Lal-lo Multi-purpose Center, Lal-lo Cagayan.

The EDCA is an agreement between the Philippines and the United States which is envisioned to advance the implementation of the Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). It is designed to promote interoperability, Capacity Building towards    AFP  modernization, Strengthening AFP for external defense, maritime security, maritime domain awareness, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) between the Philippines and its defense treaty ally the United States. (PR)