The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy may avail sea vessels made in Balamban, Cebu as announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

"The new vessel that we are seeing there, the 40-foot vessel that's made in Cebu, that will be included," Marcos said. "We will eventually have 40 of them that would give us an increased capability. This is ongoing."

Cebu has long been recognized as the country's shipbuilding capital with the shipbuilding industry propelling the local economy of Balamban in Midwestern Cebu on the brink of cityhood status and the newly-built ship building facilities in Danao City.

The plan was confirmed by Teodoro, who recently went to Capitol and met with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

"Cebu builds ships, Cebu builds equipment that we need, and therefore the synergy that we see today will continue but in a different dimension not only as a locator in the Province of Cebu but as a resource purchaser and resource user of the services, goods and other capabilities that your province can produce," Teodoro said.

He added that he is just waiting for amendments to the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization law to locally source military assets.

"We encourage our legislators here today that we are waiting for these amendments by the end of the year so that by next year we can start to leverage the talents and abilities of the people of Cebu," Teodoro said.

Balamban has its locators include Japan-based Tsuneshi Heavy Industries and Australia's Austal Corporation, local builders Advance Catamaran Composites and Cebu Maritime Industry.

"You have an important role to play here not only in maintaining peace and security in Central Philippines," Teodoro said.