"We are not looking for the re-establishment of US bases in the Philippines where you have US forces," Blair told a news conference after a meeting with Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.
The two met at Camp Aguinaldo for the 43rd meeting of the Mutual Defense Board, the coordinating agency for the 50-year-old RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty.
"What we are looking for are flexible arrangements so we can work together on the challenges of the future. This has got to do primarily with being able to operate together quickly, share intelligence so that we have the same picture of the environment and the operation and for realistic exercises," Blair said.
The US remains interested in forging a new arrangement with Manila to allow its aircraft and warships to be serviced or repaired at the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales and Clark Field in Pampanga — both former US military facilities.
The US Seventh Fleet left Subic in November 1992, a year after the Philippine Senate voted not to renew the US bases agreement while the US 13th Air Force left Clark when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in June 1991.
"A combination of commercial and military activities can be fruitful," Blair said, noting how the huge US defense firm Lockheed Martin has established a facility in Clark for aircraft maintenance.
The US has maintained that it needs facilities in the Philippines not only for repairs and servicing of its ships and planes but also to re-supply forces in the region.
Shortly after the departure of US forces, both Manila and Washington worked on an "acquisition and cross-servicing agreement" (ACSA) that included "a combination of commercial and military activities."
But the ACSA was roundly criticized so soon after the departure of US forces and both sides instead forged a toned-down Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to allow joint military exercises.
For his part, Villanueva said the region faces new security threats, such as drug trafficking, terrorism, ethnic conflicts, separatism and natural disasters forcing the two traditional allies to rethink the security agreements.
He said the armed forces of both countries are also now more frequently tapped to engage in non-traditional military roles, such as peacekeeping.
"The MDB has to respond accordingly to a region where the security situation has become more fluid and uncertain," Villanueva said.
"While territorial disputes, ethnic violence, terrorism and transnational crimes might not immediately translate into full-blown conflict, this situation prompts us to be more vigilant and pro-active," he said.
Meanwhile, militant groups yesterday aired strong suspicion the arrival of Blair was aimed at increasing military presence in the country rather than resolving the Mindanao hostage crisis.
Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya chairman Rodolfo Sambajon accused the US of trying to exploit the Basilan hostage crisis in order to increase their military presence in the Philippines.
"Blair’s trip to the Philippines is not the usual trip to a wax museum. He will echo the US position on several economic, political and military issues," Sambajon claimed.
Sambajon added that Blair will most likely brief his Filipino counterparts and other concerned officials of the Arroyo administration on the US strategic plans for the region.
"The visit of Blair is meant to remind the Arroyo government and the Armed Forces on their roles in keeping US troops in the region," he said.
Sambajon called on the government to immediately junk the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty which he described as "onerous" and disadvantageous to the Filipino people. – With Mayen Jaymalin