In the wake of a Chinese underwater drone being discovered off the coast of Masbate, a Philippine lawmaker has called for the establishment of a new naval facility in Surigao del Norte under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. Representative Robert Ace Barbers emphasized the strategic significance of Surigao del Norte in safeguarding the nation’s eastern seaboard from foreign intrusions and potential exploitation of resources, notably deuterium deposits.
Barbers expressed concerns over foreign intelligence operations targeting Philippine mineral resources, including deuterium, which is abundant in the country’s deep seas and crucial for renewable energy sources. The recovered drone, identified as HY-119, is believed to be a sophisticated device used for navigation and communication between underwater and surface units, as well as satellites.
While the Department of National Defense considers setting up an EDCA site within the Phividec Industrial Authority in Misamis Oriental, Barbers cautioned against mixing business and military complexes. He argued that placing a military facility within a business zone like Phividec, which hosts numerous enterprises, could disrupt the balance between commercial and defense interests.
Phividec Administrator Donato Bernedo acknowledged the need to bolster national defense but stressed the importance of considering the impact on existing businesses within the estate. The proposed EDCA site at Phividec is intended to work in tandem with the Lumbia airbase in Cagayan de Oro City, which supports both military and civil defense operations.