Solons want Phl’s self-reliant defense posture, locally-produced weapons

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri reiterated his support for the passage of a measure strengthening the country's self-reliant defense posture program and allowing the country to produce weaponry.

Zubiri said the government should undertake steps that would develop the country's capability to locally produce advanced weaponry and equipment for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Hence, he pushed anew for the enactment of Senate Bill 2455 or the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act seeking the country to produce its own arms manufacturing company to avoid importation

In a recent hearing, the senator cited that the United States requires arm manufacturers who supply them with weapons to set up shop in their home country.

"We would like that to happen as well in the Philippines where if these companies want to sell firearms to the armed forces or the armed services they (would) have to set up shops in the Philippines and manufacture them here in our country. That way they pay income taxes, hire laborers, and create more jobs," Zubiri said.

This, he noted prevents the depletion of the country's economic resources.

Further, Zubiri bared the Philippines is currently in negotiation with an Australian ship company that has a shipyard in Balamban, Cebu.

"With the passage of the bill, we will prioritize locally-made equipment. They told me they could build the ships here in one year and would hire 3,000 shipbuilders for the three boats. The point is, they are excited to build (the ships) here. We don't have to buy them from Australia," Zubiri said.

He noted that local repair and maintenance are included in the talks.

In 2021, Zubiri cited the Philippines was tagged as among the top importers of arms in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), spending USD338 million in arms imports.

The country was next only to Singapore (at USD361 million), and Myanmar (at USD394 million).

Zubiri previously emphasized that "unlike Singapore, the Philippines have a great deal of resources at our disposal. And unlike Myanmar, we are not operating under military rule."

Meanwhile, Senator Mark Villar said the passage of the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act will strengthen the country's defense industry and open job opportunities for Filipinos.

Once enacted, Villar said the Senate Bill 2455 would uplift the defense industry's local businesses to "eventually become internationally competitive."

"They are already internationally competitive, if we can give more support to companies like Armscor in the defense industry, I'm confident that we can generate more jobs. That's why I believe that we should pass this bill at the soonest possible time. We need to support our local industries, we need to help them become internationally competitive," Villar said.

"This bill is an opportunity for us to give that much-needed support, create jobs, create an industry that can compete internationally," he added.