THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is aiming to develop a nationwide network of defense industrial zones in a bid to strengthen the country’s military and defense manufacturing capability.
Peza is inviting global defense and military industry players to locate in the newly expanded Government Arsenal in Bataan.
The investment-promotion authority is rolling out the red carpet to interested military and defense industry players, including those in the Middle East, as the Government Arsenal Defense Industrial Estate is set to be expanded by 3,000 hectares.
Peza Director General Charito B. Plaza told reporters this expansion has already been given the green light by the local government of Hermosa, Bataan, where the additional area is located.
The present Government Arsenal is in the 340-hectare Camp Gen. Antonio Luna in Limay, Bataan, and will be part of a countrywide strategy of Peza to transform the country into a formidable military and defense equipment-maker. “It’s a defense industrial complex, so we’ll be inviting defense industries around the world to locate, like in making of military aircraft and tanks, arms and ammunitions, drones and military clothing,” Plaza said.
“I suggest that we have two in Mindanao, one in Puerto Princesa [City, Palawan], one in Zambales, and two or three in Luzon,” she added.
The Government Arsenal will be the pilot area, considering the past development already put in by the previous administrations to transform it into an industrial estate. Puerto Princesa is the next site for another defense industrial zone, as the local government of the coastal city has donated 1,500 hectares for that purpose.
To further buttress the country’s capability in the defense industry and attract more locators, Plaza will propose a deal to companies that, in lieu of their payment or costs to Peza, they can donate equipment or arms to the national government.
Plaza said she has already pitched the country’s defense industrial complex at a defense expo in Qatar, and will do so again in a forthcoming investment road show in the Middle East in February.