Government Arsenal (Philippines)
Encyclopedia
| Established: | June 22, 1957 |
| Director: | MGEN Jonathan C. Martir (Ret.) |
| Website: | http://www.arsenal.mil.ph |
The Government Arsenal (GA) is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of National Defense
Department of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
, responsible for the production of basic weaponry and ammunition for the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
(AFP), and the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
(PNP), among others, and for the sale and export of products in excess of AFP/PNP requirements.
History
The Government Arsenal (GA) is located on a 370-hectare defense industrial estate in Lamao, Limay, BataanLimay, Bataan
Limay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 54,782 people in 9,490 households.-Barangays:Limay is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.* Alangan* Kitang I...
, about 120 km from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
by land, 70 km from Subic
Subic
Subic can mean any of the following:*House of Šubić, a noble clan from Dalmatia.*Subic Bay, in the Philippines.*Subic, Zambales, a municipality in the Philippines.*Subic Bay Freeport Zone , an economic free trade area in the Philippines....
and 90 km from Clark. Just three km from the Port of Limay, the Arsenal is strategically situated near the Petron Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
Refinery, the Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
Combined Cycle Power Plant, the National Power Corporation Plant, the Petro-Chemical Complex, and the Special Economic Zone at Mariveles, Bataan
Mariveles, Bataan
Mariveles is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 102,844 people in 19,460 households...
. To sustain its operations, the GA presently maintains and operates 124 buildings and structures sprawled over 70 hectares of land.
A creation of Republic Act
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
No. 1884 which was signed into law on June 22, 1957, the Arsenal is a line bureau under the Department of National Defense
Department of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
. However, it was only about a decade later, on March 7, 1967, that a presidential proclamation on its present site at Limay, Bataan
Limay, Bataan
Limay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 54,782 people in 9,490 households.-Barangays:Limay is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.* Alangan* Kitang I...
was declared. Accordingly, on October 12, 1967, the ground breaking materialized at the spot where the statue of General Antonio Luna now stands. Site preparations were subsequently undertaken by the 514th and 564th Engineering Construction Battalions of the 51st Engineering Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
(AFP). Construction of essential buildings and facilities then followed along with training abroad of selected military and newly hired civilian personnel on the manufacture of small arms ammunition (SAA).
On August 15, 1971, or fourteen (14) years after the enactment of Republic Act
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
1884, the first SAA cartridge rolled out of the GA's production assembly line. Three years later, the integrated SAA manufacture began, with all the components - case, primer, propellant powder, and bullet assembled into a complete cartridge - manufactured in the arsenal.
As a strategic resource, the arsenal is envisioned to be a center for defense industries to meet domestic requirements and supply the world market. In line with this vision, the GA explored in the early 1980's, the possibility of exporting excess production, improving ammunition technology and expanding the capability for weapons production as called for in its charter. However, the impediments under the then existing laws prevented any real progress in this direction.
Modernization
On February 23, 1995, Republic ActRepublic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act, was enacted. Republic Act
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
7898 likewise provides for the modernization of the Government Arsenal for the development of production capabilities to enhance self-sufficiency in defense requirements. Specifically, Section 12 of this Act mandates that "the government arsenal shall be utilized in the production of basic weapons, ammunition and other munitions for the use of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
and the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
(PNP), and for the sale and export of products in excess of AFP/PNP requirements." Furthermore, the GA is authorized to use such production facilities as it may own or be provided under the law or as it may arrange under joint venture, co-production or similar arrangements with local and foreign entities.
As part of the modernization effort, the arsenal, through the Department of National Defense, issued an invitation to bid for a Multi-Station Bullet Assembly Machine for 5.56mm M193/M855 in August 2009. This marks a significant expansion of existing production lines.
As of the most recent supplemental bulletin for the bid, bids for this acquisition were to have been opened on the 4th of December 2009.
Government Arsenal Modernization Act
In July 1, 2010, Congressman Albert Garcia sponsored the House Bill 0076, also known as the "Government Arsenal Modernization Act". Congressmen Mel Sarmiento, Francis Ortega, and Leopoldo Bataoil are listed as co-sponsors. The bill sought to implement the following four-phase, 6.3 billion peso, modernization program:Phase I - Enhancement of the Arsenal's Capacity in Production of Small Arms Ammunition
Projected budget: One Billion Three Hundred Forty Million Pesos (P1.340B)
Bill description of this phase:
The Arsenal shall acquire various equipment necessary to enhance ts capability and increase its annual capacity in the production of Small Arms (ammunition) to a level where t can fully support the Small Arms Ammunition requirements of the AFP, PNP, and other government law enforcement agencies in accordance with its modernization objectives. Phase I shall be aimed at increasing its annual Small Arms Ammunition production to meet the overall Small Arms Ammunition requirements of all defense and law enforcement agencies.
Phase II - Development of the Arsenal's Capability in Weapons Manufacture
Projected budget: Two Billion Pesos (P2.0B) for a period of four years
Bill description of this phase:
The Arsenal shall acquire necessary equipment and technologies to develop its capabilities in the field of weapons manufacture to a level where it can truly perform its lawful mandate. The Arsenal shall likewise continuously conduct research and development activities in accordance with the spirit of Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Program of the government in order to gain insights and finally develop technical capability in the manufacture of weapons that are vital to support the mission of the AFP, PNP and other law enforcement agencies.
Phase III - Establishment of Various Munitions Testing Facilities
Projected budget: Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500M)
Bill description of this phase:
The Arsenal shall be transformed from its present status as a mere small arms ammunition manufacturer into a multi-task-capable agency by establishing various facilities with necessary equipment and appropriate technology to hone and harness its technical know-how in the conduct of tests and evaluation of an assortment of defense material.
Phase IV - Development of Arsenal's Capability to Manufacture Medium and Large Caliber Ammunition
Projected budget: Four Hundred Ninety-two Million Pesos (P492M) for a period of five years
Bill description of this phase:
The Arsenal shall require suitable equipment and the attendant technology and establish facilities to develop its capability in the manufacturer of medium and large caliber ammunition.
This bill has been pending with the House Committee on National Defense since July 27, 2010.