LIMAY, Bataan – The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and the Government Arsenal (GA) signed Monday a memorandum of agreement on the proposed declaration of the Defense Industrial Estate here as the newest expansion area of the Freeport Area of Bataan.
The industrial estate in Barangay Lamao where the GA is located and manufactures basic weapons and ammunition for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police has an area of 370.371 hectares. AFAB administrator Emmanuel Pineda and GA acting director retired AFP Maj. Gen. Arnold Rafael Depakakibo signed the MOA witnessed by outgoing Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana in the Department of National Defense Building at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The secretary has approved the proposal, the GA being an agency under the DND. Lorenzana underscored the significance of the partnership in the government’s longstanding plan to establish defense industry economic zones across the country.
“Today is a great day to celebrate cooperation and the spirit of collaboration. The DND has always intended to stimulate the local defense industry, and this joint venture is a monumental step in that direction,” he said.
“As you all know, the AFP is nearing the peak of its modernization efforts that are aimed at achieving a stronger defense posture for our country, and today’s event will hopefully jumpstart material acquisition from foreign defense industries,” Lorenzana added.
The defense chief also acknowledged the efforts and contribution of Bataan 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III for the fulfillment of this milestone that he said will undoubtedly usher in progress and development for the province. Garcia, incoming governor of Bataan, was the author of the bill approved into law mandating the expansion of FAB not only in Mariveles but in 11 towns and one city of the province.
Pineda said the MOA engages both the AFAB and the GA to work collaboratively in the establishment and operation of the FAB expansion area as a sustainable defense industrial base, with the goal of encouraging investors in defense projects to generate employment opportunities in the province as well as income for the government.
Expected gains from this joint venture will help sustain the AFP’s modernization program in line with the national policy of defense self-reliance, the AFAB administrator said.
With the execution of the said MOA, the AFAB has been successfully appointed and engaged as the GA’s incentives administration authority with exclusive authority to market and transact with investors within the GA FAB Expansion Area that may either be defense locators and enterprises or non-defense locators and enterprises, explained AFAB information officer Hazel Keith Elloren.
