Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. visited Lumbia Air Base on Saturday, which is one of the nine agreed locations under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.
Accompanied by Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Resource Management Salvador Melchor B. Mison, Jr., and key officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Secretary Teodoro inspected the site designated for the approved and funded Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) warehouse.
Once completed, this warehouse is expected to facilitate the rapid deployment of essential supplies for both field missions and HADR operations.
Additionally, the defense chief assessed the locations of two other approved EDCA projects at Lumbia: the air traffic control tower and specific sections of the airfield’s runway.
Secretary Teodoro emphasized Lumbia’s strategic importance as one of the country’s major operating bases, which supports various AFP missions in Mindanao.
The ongoing development at Lumbia Air Base, beyond the projects outlined in EDCA, is anticipated to enhance its operational effectiveness.
This will enable the base to accommodate air reserve forces and provide essential support for HADR operations during emergencies in the Mindanao region.
The EDCA allows for the joint utilization of AFP and US Forces while granting access to agreed locations in the Philippines under the frameworks of the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.
