Government Arsenal Begins Construction of Two Manufacturing Plants

08 April 2019

Starting construction of manufacturing plants in GA (photos : DND)

The Government Arsenal (GA) marked the start of the construction of force protection equipment (FPE) and 5.56MM magazine manufacturing plants with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 5, 2019, at Camp Antonio Luna, Lamao, Limay, Bataan.

Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana, together with Republic of Korea (ROK) Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dongman, Samyang Comtech Co., Ltd. Inc. Representative Kim Jong-il, BuHueng Precision Co., Ltd. President Min Hung-ki, and Director General Kim Kitaek from ROK’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, led the attendees of the event.

“We submitted a bill to convert this area (GA) into a defense industrial complex so that we can have right to investors, we can enjoy tax holidays or incentives and then later on we can export also from this place anything that we manufacture here,” Secretary Lorenzana said during his speech.

The GA signed an implementing agreement with SAMYANG Comtech Co. Ltd and BuHeung Precision for the co-production of the FPE and 5.56MM magazines, respectively.

“The project will also be good to the province of Bataan because the project will also generate investment and employment for the people here,” the Defense Chief added. SAMYANG Comtech Co. Ltd will establish FPE manufacturing and testing facilities, which shall have an annual capacity of 20,000 sets of armored vest and ballistics helmet in the former Elisco Tool (ELITOOL) building within the GA complex.

Meanwhile, BuHeung Precision Co. Ltd will establish a 5.56mm 30-round magazine manufacturing plant that will supply the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with magazines.

Both companies will eventually transfer to the agency the technology needed in the production and testing of FPE, primarily armor vests and ballistic helmets, and magazines. These technologies are needed by the GA to boost its self-reliance defense capability to support the requirements of the AFP and other law enforcement agencies.

(Mintfo)