A lawmaker has called on the government to consider Surigao del Norte province as the site for a new naval facility under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, emphasizing its strategic significance in safeguarding the country’s eastern seaboard.
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers highlighted that establishing an EDCA naval site in the province could provide a crucial line of defense against foreign intrusions and potential resource exploitation, particularly of deuterium deposits.
Barbers warned that foreign entities might already be conducting intelligence operations targeting deuterium and other mineral resources in Philippine waters. His comments followed the recent recovery of a Chinese underwater drone by local fishermen off the waters of San Pascual, Masbate, earlier this week.
“With the growing global race to find renewable sources of fuel or energy like deuterium, which is reportedly abundant in the deep seas along the country’s eastern seaboard, it is not farfetched to think that China is also keen to get a hand on it,” Barbers said.
Deuterium, a hydrogen isotope, has a wide range of applications in military, industrial, and scientific fields. It is used in prototype fusion reactors, as a tracer in nuclear fusion studies, and in moderating neutrons within heavy water reactors.
The recovered Chinese underwater drone, identified as HY-119, is reportedly a navigation and communication device capable of transmitting and receiving data, voice messages, and navigation information between underwater vessels, surface units, and satellites.
Barbers also addressed reports that the Department of National Defense is considering establishing an EDCA site within the Phividec Industrial Authority business complex in Misamis Oriental province.
“While I do not question the rationale behind the plan to put up an EDCA naval site inside the Phividec facility, I believe it would be prudent not to mix a business complex with a military installation,” Barbers stated.
The Phividec estate spans 3,000 hectares and hosts approximately 200 business locators. It is also registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). Reports indicate that the proposed EDCA site at Phividec would complement the nearby Lumbia airbase in Cagayan de Oro City, which serves dual military and civil defense purposes.
Phividec Administrator Donato Bernedo has expressed support for strengthening national defense capabilities but stressed the importance of balancing military initiatives with the interests of businesses operating in the estate.
“It is critical to ensure that any military developments within the Phividec area do not disrupt the operations of existing businesses or deter potential investors,” Bernedo said.