Marcos orders EDCA use for relief efforts

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered the activation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country for the relief and rescue operations in areas affected by Tropical Storm Kristine.

Speaking to reporters after the situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the President said that EDCA sites must be used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to airlift relief goods, personnel and equipment, especially in areas with impassable road networks.

"Again, we included all of the different agencies, of course, the NDRRMC led by the DND (Department of National Defense). And they are prepared to provide, number one from the AFP, airlift kasi 'yung mga kalsada hindi pa madaanan (because roads are impassable)," Marcos said.

"And number two, they are continuing — the AFP is also continuing to monitor the situation so that we will be able to activate the EDCA sites, which were put there specifically for this purpose," he added.

The President assured the public that government personnel would be deployed as soon as possible to areas severely affected by the inclement weather.

Marcos also pointed out that all departments "seem to be well prepared" to address the storm's impacts.

"We have some budgeting issues simply because we have so many storms passing us. ... It's okay, but that's not something that we should worry about because we will be able to remedy that," he added.

Signed in 2014, the EDCA provides for Filipino and American soldiers to train together and allows the US to build facilities and preposition military supplies, and equipment inside strategically located bases in the country.

There are nine EDCA sites across the country: the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

During the same briefing, Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the United States was ready to deploy its planes to the EDCA sites to help in the relief operations.

"In terms of the airlift capability, we already have alerted most of our aircraft. But yesterday (Tuesday), we also coordinated with our US counterparts, and they are ready to send in their aircraft using our EDCA sites," Brawner said.

The AFP is ready to "establish our multinational coordinating centers" to accommodate other countries willing to help in disaster response efforts, he added.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the Philippine government was coordinating with Southeast Asian neighbors such as Singapore "to marshal their capabilities for airlift and other manpower assistance that they can pitch in.

The defense chief said he plans to talk to "traditional partners" in anticipation of the need for assistance in airlift and rescue efforts.

"We have to establish first the protocols before the actual deployment of military assets. With Singapore, I already talked to Ambassador (Constance) See, and then we are reaching out to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia as the closest neighbors, in addition to partner nations," Teodoro said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured Marcos and the public that it has enough family food packs prepositioned to augment local government relief efforts.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said regions have "very high stockpiles" of aid to help residents affected by the storm.

He told the President that the agency retained the 2-million mark in terms of national stockpile, or the total number of stockpiled goods nationwide.

"This was pre-(Typhoon) Carina level. We had a very good run [of] production this past couple of weeks, Mr. President, NROC (National Resource Operations Center) is our Pasay hub. So, we have around 176,000. Our Visayas hub has around 250,000. That's family food packs," Gatchalian said.

For the Ilocos region, there are more than 93,000 available food packs; Cagayan Valley region with over 109,000; Central Luzon with more than 170,000; and over 101,000 for both Calabarzon and Mimaropa, he said.

At the tail end of Typhoon Carina's onslaught, Bicol region had close to 162,000 available food packs, Gatchalian added.

The DSWD will also work with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to help provide more than 100 water filtration kits to the Bicol region.

Each kit filters out bacteria and provides clean water for around 100 people a day.

To prevent logistical problems in the delivery of essential supplies, Teodoro said he would recommend suspending work and classes in key areas to keep roads clear for large trucks needed for disaster relief.

"I'll be working closely with the [executive secretary] to recommend suspension of work and classes in areas where we need to marshal our logistics," he said.

During the situational briefing, Marcos also told Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to be ready to immediately respond to calls for help from local government units, who, he said, are the "first responders" during times of calamity.

"Let's be prepared to give assistance. There are certain problems that local authorities may not be able to handle or may require additional support for. It's important that we maintain good coordination with the local governments," he said.

Marcos said the government already has its regular standard operating procedures in place, with departments ready to address specific needs across the country, particularly in the Bicol region, which was heavily affected by the storm.

"That's what we're waiting for now. We are at the mercy of the weather as we always are, so we just have to wait for the true effects of Typhoon Kristine," he added.