THE Philippines and the United States will 'jointly operate' the four new locations under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that was agreed upon by the two governments during the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin 3rd this week, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday.

Col. Medel Aguilar said, however, that the establishment or enhancement of these facilities will be funded by the US and will be turned over to the Philippine government after its use.

The AFP statement comes as the US Defense Department announced that the Philippines has agreed to restart joint patrols in the South China Sea to counter China's military rise.

The two countries had suspended maritime patrols in the hotly contested area under the rule of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

During a visit to Manila by Austin, he and Philippine counterpart Carlito Galvez 'agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea to help address [security] challenges,' the statement said Thursday (Friday in Manila).

'Collaborative agreement'