PHL’s new defense pact with US seen to boost businesses

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8): PHL’s new defense pact with US seen to boost businesses

The new defense cooperation agreement between the Philippinesand the United Stateswill not only enhance the military capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but will also boost local businesses.

Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, a member of the Philippine negotiating panel for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), said in a Malacanang press briefing Thursday that one of the main features of the pact states the preference for local suppliers of goods and services in the logistics requirements.

Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said EDCA institutionalizes prepositioning of USequipment within the AFP locations and the construction of related facilities to accommodate such prepositioning and other enhanced defense cooperation activities.

Malaya said the military practice will engage contractors to construct buildings and infrastructures inside the AFP camps.

He said the construction materials will be likely also sourced locally.

“So, ito pong EDCA ay makatutulong sa paglago ng ating negosyo (So this EDCA will help boost our businesses),” he added.

The two countries signed the agreement, which is envisioned to advance the implementation of the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), during the visit of US President Barack Obama to Manilalast April.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=641805