00:00With defense ties between the Philippines and the United States growing stronger, a proposed joint ammunition facility in Subic is now on the table.
00:08If this pushes through, it could open doors to local jobs, technology transfer, and a stronger security footing.
00:14Patrick DeJesus provides us the full story.
00:19The Philippines is open to the possible establishment of a U.S. joint ammunition manufacturing and storage facility in Subic Bay.
00:27In a U.S. House Committee on Appropriations report this month, lawmakers directed the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, and International Development Finance Corporation to conduct a feasibility study as part of the Indo-Pacific Ammunition Manufacturing Effort.
00:46This would also pave the way for the United States to have forward staging of ammunition stockpiles in Subic, a former U.S. naval base, until 1991.
00:56Any production dito na makakatulong sa technological transfer, empleyo, revenue, e dito nga gagawin is welcome.
01:06At lalo-lalo na pag meron tayong sustainability portion na magagamit natin ang produkto.
01:16But on a purely commercial basis, ito ay defense industry na mag-e-employyo ng Pilipino sa special export processing zone.
01:28For now, the Philippine government has not yet received any official proposal, but it is welcome given the current warmer relationship between the Philippines and the U.S.
01:39Naturally, we will consider it and any production entity which will be of benefit to the Philippines, and not only in terms of our resilience, but improving, giving employment and other technological transfers is definitely encouraged, being a like-minded and a treaty partner in itself.
02:01Meanwhile, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Shakaline is currently in the Philippines for a four-day official visit.
02:09Earlier today, she and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen defense cooperation between the Philippines and Lithuania.
02:21This includes cyber security, defense industry, munitions production cooperation, and addressing hybrid threats and maritime security.
02:31Like the Philippines, Lithuania faces challenges and similar threats to its security.
02:37Thus, both defense officials emphasized the importance of standing up, even for small countries, in accordance with international law.
02:46We have to connect our peoples, those who understand very clearly that freedom is not a given. Freedom is something you have to fight for, and sometimes fight very, very hard.
02:58So therefore, now we have a framework, now we have a way forward, now we have a clear understanding that it's going to take a lot of hard work, it's going to take a lot of resources, but our children, they deserve to live in a free world.
03:13The small nations, as our president has always said, need a firm voice in international affairs.
03:21And we both resist the nomenclature that we are mere agents of other large powers when our people bear the brunt of standing up for our own national interests and our own futures as we decide it.
03:41Patrick De Jesus, from the National TV, for a new and better Philippines.
