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New facility in Palawan seen to enhance PH's maritime security, air defense capabilities

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Addie Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- A new facility that will be constructed in Palawan is expected to enhance the Philippine&#x27;s maritime security and air defense capabilities, defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on Friday. In a press conference at the Tactical Operations Wing West (TOW WEST) in Palawan, Teodoro announced significant upgrades to the country&#x27;s defense infrastructure, with the new facility set to serve as a &quot;forward operating base&quot; for the Philippine Air Force.The project is slated for completion within three years, depending on the resolution of legal and construction issues. &quot;&#x27;Yung naval facility and air force facility sa Balabac, we want to make it a functional and holistic operating base of the Philippine Air Force,&quot; said Teodoro, emphasizing the strategic importance of the facility in strengthening the country&#x27;s defensive posture, particularly in safeguarding its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. &quot;Ito ay kailangan natin for our external defense posture. Kailangan natin para ma protektahan ang sovereign rights natin sa West Philippine Sea and ito ay magiging backbone ng archipelagic defense concept natin,&quot; he added. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/10/207-chinese-ships-spotted-in-west-philippine-sea-in-new-record-high-navy-1315">READ: 207 Chinese ships spotted in West Philippine Sea in new record-high -- Navy</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/1/china-may-be-trying-to-drive-brp-teresa-magbanua-out-of-escoda-shoal-analyst-1456">READ: China may be trying to drive BRP Teresa Magbanua out of Escoda Shoal — analyst</a></div>(The naval facility and air force facility in Balacbac, we want to make it a functional and holistic operating base of the Philippine Air Force - we need this for our external defense posture. We need to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and this will be the backbone of our archipelagic defense concept.) &quot;We will be a naval facility that will support our activities in the West Philippine Sea because it&#x27;s so obvious na kailangan natin ng naval facility on the north ng western side Palawan kung diyan tayo iikutan ng ating mga naval assets. So meron na tayong naval presence dun, but we want to make it a synergized, modern, and capable naval base,&quot; he added.(We will be a naval facility that will support our activities in the West Philippine Sea because it&#x27;s obvious that we need a naval facility on the north of western side of Palawan if our naval assets will be circumvented. So we have a naval presence there but we want to make it a synergized, modern, and capable naval base.) The new base is part of a broader effort to improve response times to maritime incidents and support national security in a volatile geopolitical climate.&quot;Itong karagatan na ito may likas na yaman na kinakailangan hindi lang natin but ng future generations natin. Hindi natin ma e-exploit ito or ma e-explore ito kung hindi natin lalagyan ng credible deterrent ng ating Sandatahang Lakas lalong lalo na sa may mga kapanahunan ngayon na very volatile [ang] geopolitical situation sa mundo,&quot; he added.(Our oceans have resources that are also needed by the future generations that&#x27;ll not be exploited if we do not place credible deterrents of our own forces especially at a time where the geopolitical situation globally is very volatile.)In addition to boosting local defense, the facility will host U.S. troops for rotational joint exercises and support. This collaboration is expected to enhance interoperability between the Philippine military and its allies, contributing to regional stability.&quot;Ang troops ng United States is rotational depending on the activities na ginagawa natin.  Rotational ‘yan, inaaprubahan kada taon… pero dahil mag i-interoperate tayo mas mabuti na meron ding logistical capability ang U.S. na nakalatag na dito para sa ganun ang common activities na ginagawa natin ay madali nilang gawin,&quot; said Teodoro.(The US troops are rotational depending on activities we conduct. It&#x27;s rotational, approved every year but because we are interoperating it&#x27;s better that the US has its own logistical capabilities in place here so conducting common activities will be easier for them.) Teodoro also noted that despite the potential changes in administration after the 2028 presidential elections, the focus on strengthening national defense and honoring international agreements would remain steadfast.&quot;Ito ay kailangan manatili. Kasi ang ating hamon ay hindi magbabago ang dapat tandaan ng ating mga kababayan ang ginagawa ng Tsina sa atin ay hindi magbabago at hindi madaan sa usapan… merong responsibilidad kahit anong administrasyon ang pumasok paninindigan ang ating mga kasunduan sa Estados Unidos at ibang mga bansa upang patatagin ang ating credible defense posture,&quot; he added.(This has to remain because the challenge will not change. What we should remember is that what China is doing will not change and will not be addressed through dialogue. Any administration has the responsibility to assert its agreements with the United States and other countries to boost our credible defense posture.) The base will also support local economic development by improving infrastructure and attracting investment.&quot;Pag tumatag ang ating bansa magkakakumpyansa ang local, domestic, and foreign investors makakainvest dito maaakyat ang country profile natin [at] magkakaroon ng karagdagang resources para sa imprastraktura at development,&quot; Teodoro noted.(If we are strong enough local, domestic and foreign investors will have confidence and raise our country&#x27;s profile, while earning additional resources for our infrastructure and development.) &quot;Ako po&#x27;y nananawagan sa mga kapatid natin sa Palawan na ito po ay ginagawa po natin hindi lang po para sa Palawan kundi sa integridad ng ating bansa para maging tunay na Pilipinas po ito na buo, na palaban, at sustainable para sa kinabukasan,&quot; said Teodoro.(I am calling out to our brothers in Palawan that we are doing this not just for the province but for the integrity of the country, for us to realize a whole, sustainable, and strong Philippines) <div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZYzmT2LKOs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A new facility that will be constructed in Palawan is expected to enhance the Philippine's maritime security and air defense capabilities, defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on Friday.

A new facility that will be constructed in Palawan is expected to enhance the Philippine's maritime security and air defense capabilities, defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on Friday.