Bukas si Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers at kapatid nito na si Governor Lyndon Barbers na magtatag ng Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement o EDCA site sa kanilang probinsya.
Ayon sa House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chair, mayroong ‘strategic advantage’ ang kanilang probinsya dahil sa nasa dulo ito ng Mindanao na nakaharap sa dagat Pasipiko at may ruta papuntang West Philippine Sea.
“The ships can traverse the country from East to West and vice-versa without needing to circle around. This is a very strategic advantage. Military presence will discourage any hostile activity and even posturing by foreign forces both civilian or otherwise,” sabi ni Rep. Barbers.
Dagdag pa ng kongresista na mainit ang pagtanggap ng mga taga-Surigao sa mga Amerikano na matagal nang kaalyado at kaibigan ng bansa.
Malaking tulong din aniya ito para mapawi ang pangamba ng mga mangingisda na itaboy sila ng hostile force sa loob mismo ng ating teritoryo.
“Needless to say, establishment of an EDCA site in Surigao del Norte will surely spur economic prosperity to the region, to which the people will be happy about. The mere presence of our Armed Forces and our allies will greatly enhance our confidence building measures. Our fisherfolks will have nothing to worry about being driven away by hostile forces within our own territory,” sabi pa ng mambabatas.
Kaya naman hinikayat ng mambabatas ang Armed Forces at US military na inspeksyunin ang lalawigan para sa posibleng pagtatayo ng base doon. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
