Philippines, US to fully implement EDCA after SC ruling

MANILA, Philippines - Following the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Philippines and the United States are now set to discuss the arrangements for its full implementation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.

DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said in an interview with ANC's Headstart that the two countries were inhibited from implementing the details of the agreement until the high court came out with its decision.

READ: SC upholds constitutionality of EDCA

"We can now proceed with the discussions with the US for arrangements for its full implementation," Jose said.

Jose noted that the US was also anticipating the decision of the high court.

"I think they have been monitoring and they have been anticipating because the Supreme Court was supposed to come out with a decision several times in the past but they were postponing it," the DFA spokesperson said.

The DFA official noted that the EDCA will allow the US to have access to existing Philippine military facilities without establishing their own bases. This would also improve the Philippines's disaster response capabilities.

"With them already in the Philippines, with their material here, the equipment, we would be able to save response time and that means we would be able to save more lives," Jose said.

Under the EDCA, the US will be allowed to construct bridges or roads that will be owned by the Philippines, Jose said.

Jose further explained that a board will be created to review and fine-tune the details and implementation of the agreement on a "per activity basis."

DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in Washington to discuss bilateral and global issues.

RELATED: Philippines, US to discuss bilateral issues in Washington