Philippine Navy ship (BRP Tarlac) anchored off the shore of Calayan Island, Cagayan, Philippines, June 30, 2023. Philippines Armed Forces chief General Andres Centino conducted inspection of troops stationed in Muvalis island which lies at the country's northernmost tip near Taiwan.  Ezra Acayan, etty Images/EPA-EFE/File  The Philippine Navy proposed to have 28 forward operating bases (FOBs) during the second and last hearing of a Senate panel on the proposed Philippine Navy Archipelagic Defense Act.

The bill defines an FOB as a “small-scale naval and military facility or outpost where the Philippine Navy can carry out its basic functions and duties and which can serve as a potential site for future upgrade and expansion, for national security purposes.”

Under the bill, a P1 billion budget would be allocated to 12 possible FOB sites such as Busuanga, Palawan, Subic Bay, Zambales, and Mavulis Island, Batanes.  

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones switched to an executive session to discuss the reason for the Navy’s proposal, among other matters.

Upon resumption, Chairperson Sen. Francis Tolentino asked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) if it was amenable to sharing a base with the Navy and the Air Force. The PCG answered in the affirmative.

“We will be terminating the hearings,” Tolentino said. “This Committee will be awaiting the final submissions coming from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in two weeks' time.”

“As promised, the Department of Foreign Affairs will be submitting a confidential supplemental position paper as well. After we have received these, we will be convening a small technical working group to finalize the finishing touches of the measure and then we will be submitting this to the plenary of the Senate,” he added.

Tolentino hopes to pass the bill within the year.

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