US plans to set up fuel storage facilities in Mindanao
The Pentagon plans to put up a huge fuel storage facility in the southern Philippines to support its operations in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior Philippine military official said.
Manuel Mogato | April 11, 2026
MANILA — The Pentagon plans to put up a huge fuel storage facility in the southern Philippines to support its operations in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior Philippine military official said.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the storage facility was part of the continuing agreement between the United States and the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
The petroleum and lubricant (POL) storage facility will be operational by 2028 and will be under the control of the Philippine government. (Also read: What’s the reason behind US expansion of military engagements in the Philippines?)
“These will still be Philippine facilities, Philippine-controlled facilities,” Trinidad told journalists.
“They are designed to support our response capability for HADR [humanitarian assistance and disaster response], maritime security, and support and sustain our forces deployed, not only the West Philippine Sea, but even the southern border. We welcome this development.”
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has opened tenders for the construction of a oil storage depot in Davao del Sur by 2028. It will have a capacity of 40 million gallons of fuel for ships and aircraft.
It was strategically located away from China’s medium-range missiles, allowing a carrier strike group to refuel in the southern Philippines. (Also read: The Philippines assures the Middle East conflict has no effect on US engagements in the Indo-Pacific region)
The DLA has plans to build similar fuel depots in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and Darwin, Australia.