Hidden Benefits on EDCA

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) strengthened the union between the United
States of America and the Philippines to help both countries with enhanced military readiness, response to
calamities and improve interoperability but benefits must be equal weighted.
Philippine as one of the most common countries affected by natural disasters will be benefited
and at the same time, Filipinos and Americans will share the same modernized weapon but this is a great
challenge for us to control our army and made decisions not affected by US.
The sovereignty of our country will not be affected because according to the Preamble,
Philippines invited US to use its own facilities and there will be no permanent military presence in our
territory and it is important for both countries to share understanding.
Through EDCA both countries have updated their partnership from maintained strong alliance for
many decades as stated by US President Obama but it is noticed that Philippines is seen as one of its
colony without having any proclamation.
Filipinos face great difficulties including the enhancement of military forces and protecting our
sovereignty from China but US promised to help us from these problems through combined trainings and
humanitarian assistance and with an aggressive pact aimed at containing China from getting the
Scarborough Shoal.
US ensures Philippines to rescue in every danger that may happen from this agreement and
Filipinos must be thankful from this help even though US will be surely benefited from free access in the
Philippines but Filipino citizens must learn to stand in their own feet.
Effective and wise decisions are needed prior to these issue but Filipinos should learn from this
agreement because concrete action like making enhanced military force is the best answer in protecting
our sovereignty and the whole country against terrorist.
Hear the Teachers Cry
Teachers mold the hope of the country but despite their sacrifices the government tends to ignore
their hard work which is unreasonable.
Increased salary as a payment for teachers hard work is a must but how can a developing country
like Philippines support 600,000 teachers with an increased salary from P 18,489 to P 25, 000 if our
country has hundreds of foreign debt to pay and give least attention in improving education that can
resolve those problems?
Trillanes who proposed the House Bill No. 245 to increase teachers salary stated that the highest
budgetary priority to education and ensure the teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best
available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment from
Article XIV, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution.

Also, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Region 7 Union President Lim said that by
increasing teachers salaries, they can feel the importance in shaping the minds of youth as a teacher but
in contrary, President Aquino ignored it due to the lack of money to be paid.
We must not ignore that Philippines has a lot of things to be constructed but teachers who molds
students are the key to success in paying attention to them like giving benefits is needed and this is a great
problem to Aquinos administration.
The Aquinos administration must considered the proposed House Bill No. 245 as an exchange
for their hard work even though it is not well agreeable during this time, teachers should not lose their
hope in achieving these in the near future.
The possible solution if the government cant grant the teachers request of salary increase they
deserve to be exempted from taking taxes which can result to the fulfillment of their lives as molders of
the youngs life that would help the Philippines to pay the foreign debt.