MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Australia have signed a Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) aimed at streamlining military coordination and disaster response, allowing Australian forces to assist the country more quickly during emergencies, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Sunday.
Teodoro said the agreement would reduce bureaucratic procedures by simplifying the coordination process, particularly in responding to disasters.
“The agreement makes us work faster. It streamlines the coordination process,” Teodoro said, explaining that the DCA would provide the mechanism for implementing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).