WORLD : U.S., Manila Agree on Base Plan

MANILA — The Philippines has reached a “tentative understanding” with the United States for the return of Clark air base to Manila’s control in September, Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus said today.

The two countries also made tentative arrangements for the turning over to Philippine control of four smaller U.S. military bases in the country, Manglapus said.

They are negotiating a new agreement to govern the use of Clark, Subic Bay naval base and the four smaller bases north of Manila. The current U.S. lease on the facilities expires in September.

“There is a tentative understanding that we will take over Clark . . . by Sept. 17 of this year,” Manglapus told reporters after briefing President Corazon Aquino on the results of last week’s fourth round of talks between the two negotiating panels.