Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said the development of a naval facility inside the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site located in Palawan is ongoing.

“We're waiting for the runway to be completed before we proceed. And we're also developing a naval facility there,” Teodoro told reporters in an ambush interview in Palawan on Monday.

Teodoro revealed the government’s plan to create a military reservation in the area to improve transportation infrastructure further and “secure all the bases.”

“We're talking to the Office of the Executive Secretary so that there's a portion in the south that can be proclaimed as a military reservation so that we can connect the airport in Puerto, in the seaport,” he added.

Teodoro attended the founding anniversary of the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Wescom-AFP) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

He also graced the blessing ceremony for newly acquired equipment for the Wescom.

Teodoro said the Department of National Defense is still waiting for the completion of a runway in the area before further proceeding to the development of other military infrastructure.