Marcos rm on new EDCA sites amid China warning

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, March 22 confirmed that the United States would be allowed to station troops and equipment in four more sites around the country, days after China warned that allowing more sites under the PH-U.S. Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) would “seriously harm” the Philippines.

“There are four extra sites scattered around the Philippines. There are some in the north. There are some around Palawan. There are some further south,” Marcos said at the celebration of the Philippine Army’s 126th anniversary.

The president did not identify the new locations, but the 2014 Edca already allows the United States to temporarily station troops and equipment in five sites: Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

PRESIDENT Biden's recently announced budget proposal promises to maintain entitlement programs while dramatically increasing defense spending.

When President Biden formally unveiled his budget last week in Philadelphia, he took direct aim at the political football that is entitlement reform. “I guarantee you I will protect Social Security and Medicare without any change,” the president said.

But analysts say looming shortfalls will put those commitments to the test.

“They’re really two choices, very straightforward. You can increase revenues going in, or you can reduce benefits being paid out,” said Andrew Eschtruth, associate director for external relations at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

“The president’s budget did not go into any detail other than to say that it was absolutely not going to propose any benefit reductions and would fight any benefit reductions that

THE Philippines has chosen the four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites for its own national interests, not because it was dictated by the United States, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said on Friday, March 24.

Año said the government is concerned about improving its defense capability, modernizing equipment and assets, and developing the country’s military infrastructure.

"Año said the government is concerned about improving its defense capability, modernizing equipment and assets, and developing the country’s military infrastructure.

'Positive contribution’ to regional peace Año also said the government’s move to develop military and base infrastructure through Edca is the country’s contribution