WASHINGTON: The United States and the Philippines have agreed on five locations for US military facilities in the Philippines under a security deal agreed amid rising tensions with China, a senior US official said on Friday.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Amy Searight said the deal was reached under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed last year that grants Washington increased military presence in its former colony through rotation of ships and planes for humanitarian and maritime security operations.

Searight told the opening of the annual US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington that Manila was a “critical US ally” and ties had never been stronger.

She did not detail the locations but said US Defense Secretary Ash Carter would visit the Philippines in April to discuss implementation of the agreement.

Searight also said the Pentagon had told the US Congress of its intention to provide $50 million to help build maritime security in the region and that the Philippines would get “the lion’s share.”