US to build boat repair facility in Palawan for Philippine military

The United States Navy plans to build a boat maintenance facility in Palawan to repair Philippine military vessels, according to the US Embassy announcement on Wednesday, July 16.

Approved by the Philippine government and compliant with all applicable U.S. and Philippine local rules and regulations, the project underscores the strategic importance of the West Philippine Sea, serving as a key logistical base for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' rotation and resupply missions to contested areas like Ayungin Shoal.

Located near Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Ulugan Bay, Barangay Macarascas, the facility will provide repair and maintenance services for several small Philippine military watercraft and include two multi-purpose rooms suitable for equipment storage or conference use.

The project highlights its strategic value amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and increasingly perilous resupply missions, with plans to strengthen logistical support for Philippine naval operations near contested waters.

The US embassy emphasized that all activities in the Philippines are conducted with full coordination with Filipino allies, reinforcing the enduring alliance between the two nations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.