DAVAO CITY — A survey conducted by the Institute of Popular Opinion of the University of Mindanao showed that majority of Dabawenyos are aware of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and the Philippines.
But only 14.5 percent of them are aware of the specific provisions of the bilateral agreement allowing the US military to have access to Philippine military bases for various activities. At least 49.3 percent, or almost half of the respondents, said they are only “somewhat” familiar with the details of EDCA while 36.2 percent are “not familiar” at all, results of the survey showed. Only 14.5 percent are aware of the specific provisions of the agreement.
The survey also noted that 89.9 percent of Dabawenyos do not participate or have not participated in any discussions or forums about EDCA.