Colt Manufacturing, 3 other Foreign Defense Companies to Set-up Mfg. Facilities in PHL

Defense companies and weapons manufacturers from Canada, the United States, South Korea, and South Africa are considering setting up manufacturing and production facilities in Bataan, once the planned first Defense Eco-Zone in South East Asia is put into fruition, a senior official from DND said on Tuesday.

The proposed 370-hectare Defense Economic Zone in Bataan is similar to Science Parks and Technology Centers located mostly in CALABARZON. The only difference is that, the defense eco-zone will cater only defense manufacturing companies instead of commercial manufacturing facilities.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition of South Africa and a unit of South Korea’s S&T Holdings Co. top the list of defense companies looking to lease land in the Southeast Asian country, said Roger Gamban, chief of the state agency overseeing the country’s weapons and munitions output.

Colt Manufacturing Co, one of the biggest US small arms manufacturers, and Canda’s Waterbury Farrel are also considering setting-up manufacturing plants in the Philippines, Gamban added.

The move to launch a defense economic zone in the northwest Bataan province by August comes as Manila has become increasingly uneasy about China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

Under President Benigno Aquino III, the Philippine government has embarked on a five-year, P75 billion modernization program to improve its capability to defend its maritime borders.

A total of P4B from South Korean and Canadian defense firms is planned to be invested by two separate companies once the defense eco-zone is ready for leasing, he said.

The Philippines currently produces small firearms and limited number of ammunition for local government uses, and imports all of its medium and large caliber weapons and ammunition. The planned investments for local production will cut the country’s import and could provide thousands of local jobs.

/Oto Melara/ Assisted Press

 

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