US pledges $1-M aid amid successive typhoons

Metro Manila, Philippines — The sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) are critical to disaster response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday, Nov. 18, as Washington pledged more aid in the wake of back-to-back typhoons.

The US pledged $1 million (around P58.7 million) in aid for relief and rehabilitation.

“Six typhoons in about less than four weeks, and I, we were able to do a better job than we would have done otherwise because of the EDCA sites which would have aided our missions and to the benefit of those who had been isolated,” said Marcos.

“They served as staging areas actually for, before, when we know that a storm is coming, we prepositioned as many assets, material as we can, as close as possible,” he added.

During a courtesy visit to Malacañang on Monday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the funding that adds to the $5.5 million provided by Washington through the US Agency for International Development since September.

“Mr. President, I have authorized US troops and all the Philippine forces to provide life-saving aid to the Filipino people. The US has also secured $1 million dollars in urgent humanitarian aid and that will enhance the work of the USAID and the World Food Programme,” Austin said.

The US defense recalled Marcos’ remarks about the EDCA sites’ purpose during calamities.

“It was your vision a while back, for these sites to be used to do exactly what you’ve described. Prepositioning supplies, food, and other elements, other personal elements in times of urgent need,” Austin said.