Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17758071271231775085718699HEgqmPPa0AA2woE (4).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File<br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed plans to establish a fuel storage facility in Mindanao, emphasizing its role in strengthening deterrence and sustaining military operations across key maritime areas, including the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>According to a report by the United States Naval Institute (USNI) News, the Pentagon is planning to open a new depot in the Southern Philippines by 2028.</p><p>The Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP), to be located around the Davao region, is expected to store up to 41 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants to support US military operations. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/afp-china-exploiting-middle-east-conflict-to-intensify-west-philippine-sea-activities-1519"><strong>AFP: China exploiting Middle East conflict to intensify West PH Sea activities</strong></a></div><p>The report said the planned site forms part of Washington’s broader push to expand its network of refueling depots across the Indo-Pacific, alongside similar facilities in Australia and Papua New Guinea. </p><p>To be located within the Gulf of Davao, the DFSP would provide an alternative refueling point away from the South China Sea-facing ports of Manila and Subic, which may be exposed in a potential conflict with China, the report added. </p><p>AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the proposed refueling station will fall under existing defense agreements between Manila and Washington, particularly the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). </p><p>“Any plans for storage of fuel facilities in the country are covered by EDCA and the VFA. These will remain Philippine facilities, Philippine-controlled facilities,” Trinidad told reporters in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/13/us-support-to-ph-unchanged-despite-middle-east-conflict-afp-1443"><strong>US support to PH &#x27;unchanged&#x27; despite Middle East conflict — AFP</strong></a></div><p>“They are designed to support our response capability for HADR [humanitarian assistance and disaster response], maritime security, and support and sustain our forces deployed, not only in the West Philippine Sea, but even in the southern border. We welcome this development,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>DETERRENCE AS A KEY SECURITY POSTURE</strong></div><div> </div><p>Trinidad underscored that beyond logistics, the presence of such facilities serves as a critical form of deterrence.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/2/afp-iran-has-no-proxy-state-in-southeast-asia-no-credible-threat-to-ph-1553">AFP: Iran has no ‘proxy state’ in Southeast Asia, no credible threat to PH</a></div><p>“The presence of these facilities serves as a deterrence. The greater risk is to have no deterrence at all,” the official said. </p><p>Asked whether such facilities could make the Philippines a potential target in times of conflict, Trinidad maintained that the absence of credible deterrence poses a greater threat to national security. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/afp-says-exercises-in-west-ph-sea-duly-coordinated-rejects-china-s-baseless-claims-1609"><strong>AFP says exercises in West PH Sea &#x27;duly coordinated,&#x27; rejects China&#x27;s &#x27;baseless&#x27; claims</strong></a></div><p>“These facilities will help allow the AFP to perform and to sustain these operations. Hence, they serve as a very strong deterrent posture,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>PHILIPPINE CONTROL ASSURED</strong></div><div> </div><p>Despite the involvement of US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Trinidad reiterated that the facility will remain under Philippine control.</p><p>“Rest assured that these will be Philippine sites controlled by the Philippines, by the AFP,” he stressed. </p><p>Trinidad, however, clarified that the Mindanao fuel depot remains in the planning stage. </p><p>“These are still plans. Details of this at the policy level—we will defer to the Department of National Defense (DND),” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HGT_mNYnQfc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1qj0d4uObOA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP), to be located around the Davao region, is expected to store up to 41 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants to support US military operations.</p>

The Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP), to be located around the Davao region, is expected to store up to 41 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants to support US military operations.

‘A strong deterrent posture’: AFP welcomes proposed US-backed fuel depot in Mindanao

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‘A strong deterrent posture’: AFP welcomes proposed US-backed fuel depot in Mindanao

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 10, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

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Maritime Security Symposium

RADM Roy Vincent Trinidad

Mindanao

Davao

fuel depot

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