Philippine Amb Romualdez open to US ammo plant in Subic

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel 'Babe' Romualdez has expressed openness to establishing an ammunition production facility in the country.

Romualdez stated that such a facility would enhance defense ties between the Philippines and the United States while also generating employment opportunities, noting it is beneficial for both countries economically.

US lawmakers have been exploring the possibility of setting up a joint ammunition manufacturing facility in Subic Bay to address the lack of forward staging facilities in the Indo-Pacific region, as reported by the US House Committee on Appropriations on June 16.

Discussions between Filipino diplomats and economic teams with US officials are ongoing to pursue this type of cooperation, with several Philippine companies interested in participating in a potential consortium.

The proposed facility aims to store materials such as nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and acid, though no formal proposal has been submitted by the US yet.