Date Released: 29 January 2019 Releasing Officer: DIR. ARSENIO R. ANDOLONG, MNSA, CESE Chief, Public Affairs Service PH, US inaugurate disaster response warehouse in Pampanga Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana and United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim led the inauguration of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) multipurpose warehouse at Lt. Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga today, January 29, 2019. As one of the major projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries, the HADR facility will provide access to necessary prepositioned equipment and infrastructure, thus enabling the two countries to respond efficiently to both traditional and non-traditional defense and security challenges. “I am delighted that we have finally undertaken the first among the many activities and projects under the EDCA,” Secretary Lorenzana said. “This HADR warehouse will surely boost the Philippines’ efforts to be a disaster-resilient nation.” For his part, Ambassador Kim highlighted the strength of the partnership between the Philippines and the U.S. “This project illustrates not only our commitment to the U.S.- Philippine alliance, but also both countries’ dedication to peace and stability in the larger Indo- Pacific region,” Ambassador Kim said. Humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of the main aspects of cooperation between the Philippines and the United States under EDCA, along with interoperability, capacity building, maritime security, and maritime domain awareness, among others. ### DND Press Release | Page 1 of 1 .