IN a rare display of openness and volubility, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, at a media forum in Quezon City, answered questions about the US-Philippines defense alliance, and offered some new revelations of what the US and other countries are prepared to do to assist the Philippines in achieving credibility in its defense and security posture.

He disclosed, among other things, that the US has earmarked funds to rehabilitate about eight military bases in the Philippines in line with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between our two countries, which seeks to upgrade our security alliance for blunting China’s aggressive expansion in the South China Sea.