US to build boat maintenance facilities in Palawan

Metro Manila, Philippines - The United States is moving forward with the construction of a boat maintenance facility at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Palawan, the United States Embassy in the Philippines confirmed in a statement released Tuesday, July 15.

According to the embassy, the US Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command issued a public solicitation on July 7 for the design and construction of the facility, which will support repair and maintenance for several small Philippine military watercraft.

“The facility will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft and will include two multi-purpose interior rooms suitable for equipment storage or conference use,” the embassy said.

It emphasized that the boat maintenance facility is not a military base, and the project has been approved by the Philippine government in accordance with all applicable US and Philippine rules and regulations.

“The project is approved by the government of the Philippines in accordance with all applicable U.S. and Philippine local rules and regulations,” the statement read.

The planned facility’s location in Palawan is strategically significant as it is situated near the West Philippine Sea, an area marked by ongoing maritime tensions between the Philippines and China.

The US Embassy reiterated the importance of the Washington-Manila alliance, rooted in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, in ensuring peace, stability, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Our US-Philippine alliance, with its roots in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, remains a cornerstone of peace and security, promoting our common vision for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific,” the embassy said.

“All of our military activities in the Philippines are done in full coordination with our Philippine allies,” it added.

In a follow-up statement, the embassy also confirmed that a similar facility is eyed in Quezon, Palawan

“A Boat Maintenance Facility (BMF) is now also proposed to be built at Quezon under the same diplomatic and legal conditions as the Oyster Bay BMF. NAVFAC put out two public solicitations - both are on the public website,” the embassy added.