CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Strengthening national security is vital for economic growth and community development as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to enhance its capabilities through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and joint training exercises with allied forces

4th Infantry Division (4ID) spokesperson Lt. Col. Joe Patrick Martinez said the visit of U.S. forces in Cagayan de Oro City for military exercises under EDCA aims to strengthen military interoperability and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) response.

“Just like any other country, a strong armed force means a strong nation. Security creates a safe environment where development can take place,” Martinez said.

He said strengthening security nationwide allows businesses to operate and investments to grow. Martinez compared national security to private sector investments, noting that companies prioritize safety to ensure productivity and growth. Similarly, investing in security—from territorial defense to food, energy, and economic security—enables communities to progress and generate employment.

Martinez also said past internal security challenges, including insurgency, affected local economies and deterred investors. As peace and security conditions improve, areas once affected by conflict are now slowly seeing economic activity.

With the number of communist terrorist group members decreasing, the army is shifting focus to external security, as the country faces challenges such as safeguarding maritime borders and preventing the illegal entry of drugs and other threats.

“To effectively protect our territory, we need to modernize our forces, acquire new technologies, and enhance our operational strategies,” he said, stressing the transition from an internal security focus to external defense.

Central to these efforts is EDCA, a bilateral agreement between the Philippines and the United States, which aims to improve interoperability, disaster response, and deterrence capabilities.

Under the agreement, joint training activities are conducted to enhance the army’s ability to respond to security threats, including natural and man-made disasters. The exercises aim to improve AFP HADR capabilities, including rapid deployment, equipment use, and specialized training, to reduce response time during emergencies.

Martinez said EDCA sites remain under Philippine jurisdiction, and all foreign personnel must follow Philippine laws and local regulations, with protocols in place to ensure discipline, accountability, and to prevent untoward incidents.

Beyond defense, the initiative contributes to capacity-building in areas such as cybersecurity and information management as the AFP works toward becoming a multi-mission, cross-domain capable force.

The 4ID called on the public to cooperate and remain vigilant, noting that national security is a shared responsibility and urging communities to report suspicious activities. (JAKA/PIA-10)