PAMPANGA, Philippines -- U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana cut the ribbon on the first major project under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) at Cesar Basa Air Base, Pampanga, on January 29.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of construction on a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief warehouse, which will be used to preposition equipment and supplies critical to the U.S. and Philippines’ ability to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian crises in the region.

EDCA builds capacity for U.S. forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by enabling greater interoperability, capability development, and modernization.

The United States is working closely with the Philippine government on future EDCA projects at four other locations: Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, Lumbia Air Base, Antonio Bautista Air Base, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.