DFA: Edca, defense treaty still important to PH, US 

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the Philippines will remain unaffected by US President Donald Trump’s broad freeze on foreign aid to most countries, according to Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.

“No, it’s not part of that aid package. They will not suddenly abandon the Edca sites,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official clarified during a weekend news forum.

“In one sentence: They know the importance of Edca for the interest of both the United States and the Philippines. Again, I repeat, they know the importance,” De Vega added.

The Edca, established in 2014, allows the United States to rotate troops through Philippine bases and preposition defense assets to enhance regional security.

The US aid freeze order sent out in an internal memo by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week paused virtually all foreign aid pending a review.

See Also

SC issues more TROs vs Comelec DQ rulings

De Vega allayed fears that it would severely impact the Philippines, as the country had “many economic partners.”

“While the US involvement in our economy as a trading partner is still very high, I think even with the freeze, it’s not like it’s going to severely affect us because the aid packages are really small at the moment,” De Vega said.