DND eyes defense industry zone in Bataan

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) is eyeing to put up a defense and military industrial economic complex in Bataan to accommodate foreign defense firms that want to establish their manufacturing plants in the country.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a proposed bill for this purpose is now in Congress and once approved, the 370-hectare Government Arsenal in Limay, Bataan will be opening its gates for foreign defense and military firms to operate in the country.

“A lot of countries want to relocate their firearms and gun manufacturing factories here. We have already submitted a proposed law to Congress for this,” Lorenzana said.

Among the many countries that have signified interest in putting up defense and military factories in the Philippines include South Korea, India, Turkey and Israel.

These countries are not only engaged in the manufacture of firearms and ammunition but also various types of protective gear and other defense and military equipment.

A law is needed for the putting up of the zone to allow foreign defense and military manufacturing firms to enjoy incentives like those under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

Lorenzana explained that having these foreign defense and military factories to be co-located at the Government Arsenal in Limay will not only spur economic development in Central Luzon but will boost the country’s defense and military capabilities.

The Government Arsenal complex is the main government entity supplying the military and other uniformed services with their ammunition needs.

“Our Government Arsenal in Limay is already producing 50 million rounds (bullets) a year but it is not only supplying the military but other members of the uniformed services, and we really need more,” Lorenzana stressed.

He said the move to develop a special economic zone is in line with initiatives to revive the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program considering the variety of security threats it is facing.

“Considering the present threats to our sovereignty such as terrorism and territorial disputes, it is about time to revive the SRDP program and highlight once again the need for enhanced external defense capabilities,” he said.

Lorenzana added the country had an SRDP program in the 1970s that aimed to provide support to military in terms of weapons, platforms and equipment. 

Unfortunately, the program did not attain much success and its implementation was discontinued because of several impediments such as budgetary limitations.

Defense spokesman Arseno Andolong said studies are now underway in Limay in preparation for the putting up of the so-called Government Arsenal Defense Industrial Economic Zone.

“There are now some presentations but we still have to submit this to the President as he is the only one authorized to declare its (creation),” Andolong said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed support for the proposed legislation to modernize the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a statement, the CHR noted the proposed PNP Modernization Act seeks to improve the capacity of our security forces to fulfill their duties in protecting and promoting human rights. 

“We are hopeful that the passage of this bill pushes them to be more conscious of human rights and their obligation to serve the people,” it said.

In 2015, the CHR submitted a position paper on proposed bills filed in the previous Congress that aimed at modernizing and reorganizing the police force.

While supporting the modernization proposal, the commission also recommended inclusion of provisions that will ensure human rights promotion in the organization.

It recommended that the functions of the Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) be clearly defined in the proposed bills.

“It is desirable that the chief HRAO as well as the regional and provincial HRAOs shall have high ranks to command respect and compliance with requirements and directives emanating therefrom,” read the CHR’s position paper.

“There is a need to define more clearly and widen its mandate to make it an effective office. The HRAO shall be charged with the protection and promotion of human rights in the police system,” it added.

It said the office should ensure that police officers respect the human rights of people in custody, as well as act promptly and refer for possible prosecution cases of human rights violations involving the police. – With Janvic Mateo