The Philippine government announced that the construction of the military runway on Balabac Island in the province of Palawan, one of the key locations of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), between the Philippines and the US, is now in its final stage.
In 2014, the Philippines and the US signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a deal widely seen as an effort to counter China’s strong presence in the West Philippine Sea. The agreement gives the US military access to Philippine bases, for training as well as for humanitarian and disaster relief activities.
Manila and Washington initially identified five sites for the agreement, namely Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, Lumbia Air Base, Antonio Bautista Air Base and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.
Balabac Island was among the four new EDCA locations announced last year, along with Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana Cagayan, Lal-lo Airport also located in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu Isabela.
The three-kilometer runway is part of Building Infrastructure for Peace and Security program of the defense and public works departments that started in 2017. The airstrip is designed to serve both military and civilian aircraft. The infrastructure projects, are among priorities under the Marcos administration, and are part of efforts to open the region south of the capital to new investments, ease transportation, and strengthen the tourism sector.
The project, now 90% complete, which is funded by a partnership between the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of National Defense, will serve both military and civilian aircraft.
Not considering the disputed Spratly Islands, the municipality is the westernmost point in the Philippines. It is separated from Sabah by the Balabac Strait. Balabac is a town in Palawan strategically close to Chinese fortifications in the West Philippine Sea.
Balabac Island is the southernmost island of the Palawan province, and therefore the westernmost undisputed island in the Philippines. The island borders the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea, and therefore borders the area of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea with the Philippines and mainland China.
The island is about 140 nautical miles from Mischief Reef, which the mainland Chinese government occupied in 1995 and subsequently turned into one of its largest artificial islands, within what the Philippines considers its 370 kilometres exclusive economic zone.
Balabac hosts one of the country’s most strategic Naval Station of the Philippine Navy western most territory, and aside that it will host the United States Military, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Another military airbase project funded by the United States in the Philippines, is the phase 2 of the redevelopment of Basa Airbase in Central Lozon.
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