House OKs bill boosting PH defense industry

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) – The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on final reading a bill seeking to develop the country’s defense industry.

A total of 194 lawmakers voted in favor and three were against House Bill No. 9713 or the Philippine Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program Act, one of the priority measures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said it is the 54th out of the 57 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council bills to be approved by the lower chamber.

“The bill provides that the concept of self-reliance shall be manifested in the continued preference on local production of materiel, when feasible, for the country’s defense forces through the partnership between the military and civilian establishments,” said Romualdez in a statement.

If enacted into law, foreign and local enterprises engaged in manufacturing, servicing, and operation of materiel may be registered with the Board of Investments and avail of incentives under the National Internal Revenue Code.

The bill also seeks to create an Office of the Undersecretary for Defense Technology Research and Industry Development, which will oversee the research and development for defense industry promotion.

The proposed measure will establish the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Trust Fund.

The trust fund will be sourced from the savings generated from the annual net income of the government arsenal, shares of the government revenues from proceeds of some reclamation projects, grants and donations, and other sources as may be determined by the Department of National Defense.