DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has embarked on a series of visits to military bases and identified Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) locations.
Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Arsenio Andolong said on Thursday that during the visits, the secretary will also personally interact with local officials, and discuss matters related to security and collaboration between the local governments and defense.
Andolong said Teodor's first visit was in Cagayan on August 9 during which he attended a town hall meeting in Calayan hosted by Mayor Joseph Llopis and the Sangguniang Bayan.
On the same day, the Defense Chief travelled to Ilocos Norte to visit the headquarters of the 4th Marine “Makusug” Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps, in Camp Cape Bojeador.
Andolong said Teodoro engaged the Marines in a “Talk to the Troops,” and participated in the traditional Hollow Block Making for the Brigade's Headquarters Building.
The DND spokesman said Teodoro is expected to visit other military bases and EDCA sites in the next few weeks.
Five military sites were initially agreed upon by the Philippines and the United States under EDCA. These were Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan), Basa Air Base (Pampanga), Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija) and Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro).
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