The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Should the United States set up fuel storage facilities in the country, these would be owned and controlled by the government under the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday. The AFP statement comes amid reports that the Pentagon planned to put up a Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) around the Southern Philippines, particularly in Davao, as part of expanding Washington’s network of forward-based Western Pacific refueling hubs alongside upcoming sites in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said, however, that the news was “just advanced information, details of which have yet to be finalized.” “Rest assured number one, these are governed by EDCA and the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement); Number two, these will be Philippine sites controlled by the Philippines by the AFP. Number three, this will allow us to further support and sustain our capabilities for HADR (Humanitarian and Disaster Relief), for maritime security and even our patrols at the West Philippine Sea and the southern border of the country,” Trinidad told reporters on the sidelines of the Maritime Security Symposium at Camp Aguinaldo. Trinidad said DFSPs were “fueling depots that the Pentagon uses to stage fuel and lubricants in support of US military operations. The Davao DFSP is said to envision supporting up to 41 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants.” He said once activated, the Davao DFSP would enable US naval vessels to receive fuel products at an alternative point away from South China Sea-facing ports of Subic and Manila which are exposed to potential conflict with China.
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