European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Update Subic boy s future How Long will . Maintain its base in the Philippines As we. Went to press with this Edi Tion of Welcome to the Philippines agreement apparently had been reached that would allow the United states to continue using Subic Bay naval facility until september 1994. This was the most recent development in a series of events involving the . Military presence in the Philippines. Here is a Brief account of the events leading up to the present situation following a year of formal negotiations Between Washington and Manila an agreement was struck on july 17, 1991, that would have allowed the . To keep the sprawling facility until the year 2000, and perhaps longer. Then on sept. 16 the philippine sen ate voted 12-11 to reject the new treaty. President Cora on Aquino who favors retaining the base then proposed Tak ing the Issue directly to the people. But a week later the president indicated that she might not Call a referendum after ajl. Some of her supporters As Well As her political opponents had warned that asking the people to overturn the Senate vote was unconstitutional in Early october the president abandoned her plans to hold a National referendum and said she would arrange for. American forces to be wit Lull Awn Over a three year period. This would allow time for an orderly american withdrawal and Lor the training of filipino technicians and managers to take Over opera Lions of the base. The philippine Senate went along with this proposal. By some accounts. 60 percent or More of All filipinos sup port a. Continuing american military presence in the country. The two coun tries have had a very close and cordial relationship dating Back nearly 100 years and the american bases generate considerable Revenue for the Philip Pines Economy. The Issue is sure to play an important part in the nationwide elections scheduled for 1992, when the people will go to the polls to vote for new officials at every level of govern ment. Until the bases Issue came up president Aquino had said she would not stand for a second term but follow ing the dispute Over the . Bases she indicated that she might reconsider. Whatever the outcome of those elections it s possible that any agreement made today regarding the future of the bases could be overturned by a new government in 1992. American service members and their dependents from Clark and Subic Bay Are evacuated to Guam in late june. Though the future of Subic has been the subject of much controversy there is no confusion about its sister facility Clark air base. In its Case nature took matters into her own hands. On june 15, 1991, it. Pinatubo a Volcano some 10 Miles from Clark exploded hurling tons of Rock and Ash into the sky. It was the biggest volcanic outburst this Cen Tury. Experts said it spewed four times As much debris As Washington state s it. St. Helens did in 1980. The fallout was devastating turning the surrounding area into an Ash strewn moonscape. A number of buildings at Clark collapsed under the debris. Runways were made useless. Five Days before Pinatubo blew its top base commanders ordered the evacuation of 14,500 personnel and de Pendents to Subic. Then the Volcano Ash rained Down on the Navy base As Well. At the height of the eruption More than 20,000 american family members were evacuated to Cebu and from there to Guam and the . Main 0 land. It was the big 1 Gest american evacuation since world 2 War ii a number of is them have since re 2 turned to Subic although it. Pinatubo simmered 5 Down the threat was still there. Besides the likelihood of further eruptions tons of de Bris were poised on the Mountain s flanks just waiting for Mon s k n Rains to Wash it Down and flood the surrounding area. Clark was is nil Down. The Philippines has already taken Back four smaller facilities including Camp John Lav n a Uio. If Dun to the
