Republic of the Philippines
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Pasay City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
SENATE BILL No. ____
Introduced by HON. JUAN MAKABAYAN
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT TO DEVELOP AND MODERNIZE THE GOVERNMENT ARSENAL,
PROVIDE FOR ITS OPERATION AND OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to develop and modernize the government arsenal.
Logistics, particularly the government arsenal, is an important if not the most important pillar of national defense. The critical importance of the government arsenal remains whether the threat to national security is internal or external.
However, the design and operation of the government arsenal has always been limited to small arms, for more than a half a century of Philippine independence. This is certainly inadequate to suppress armed rebellion and subversion, repel transnational terrorism, and protect the integrity of the national territory including our exclusive economic zone.
In order to address these serious threats to national security, and sustain the independent foreign policy to be “friend to all, enemy of none,” the country will need to strengthen its national defense by promoting self-reliance.
To this end, the government arsenal will need to operate beyond small arms, develop into heavy and other conventional weapons, and lay the foundation for a strong Philippine defense industry.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.
Republic of the Philippines
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Pasay City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
SENATE BILL No. ____
Introduced by HON. JUAN MAKABAYAN
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT TO DEVELOP AND MODERNIZE THE GOVERNMENT ARSENAL,
PROVIDE FOR ITS OPERATION AND OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — The Government hereby declares it its policy to achieve a reasonable time sufficiency in MODERN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS (INCLUDING FIREARMS, GUNS, RIFLES, MORTARS, BULLETS, SHELLS, GRENADES, MINES, ROCKETS AND MISSILES), HEAVY WEAPONS (INCLUDING ARTILLERY, GUNS, CANNONS, SHELLS, MINES, TORPEDOES, ROCKETS AND MISSILES), SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY, ARMORED VEHICLES, AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES, TANKS, BODY ARMOR, NIGHT VISION GOGGLES, RADIOS, DRONES, ROBOTS AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS THAT USE EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL BASED ON CHEMICAL ENERGY AND ARE NOT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (I.E. NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS) AMMUNITION FOR THESE WEAPONS, AND OTHER MUNITIONS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR THE USE OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS [small arms, mortars, and other weapons, ammunition for these weapons, and other munitions for the use of the military establishments].
SECTION 2. Designation of Agency. — a. In addition to the functions and duties vested in him by existing laws, the Secretary of National Defense shall exercise supervision and control over the government arsenal and is hereby authorized to establish, operate and maintain SUCH A MODERN ARSENAL, AS WELL AS ACCESSORY PLANTS FOR THE CONTINUED AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THIS ARSENAL, AND TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE DESIGN, INNOVATION, PRODUCTION, BUILD, MANUFACTURE, REBUILD, REMANUFACTURE, FABRICATION, ASSEMBLY, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, REFURBISHMENT, RE-LIFE, UPGRADE, MODIFICATION, REVERSE ENGINEERING AND INVENTION OF SMALL ARMS, LIGHT WEAPONS, HEAVY WEAPONS, VEHICLES, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, DRONES, ROBOTS AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS, AMMUNITION OF THESE WEAPONS, AND OTHER MUNITIONS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES [such an arsenal, as well as accessory plants for the continued and efficient operation of this arsenal, for the design, research development of production techniques, manufacture and repair of small arms, mortars, and other weapons, ammunition of these weapons, and other munitions].
b. The Director of the Government Arsenal shall be charged with the responsibility of making continuous study of and to advise the Secretary of National Defense on all matters pertaining to the design, development, manufacture, procurement, stockpiling, and allocation of conventional weapons; to recommend policies, rules and regulations to the Secretary of National Defense for the efficient operation, maintenance and security of the government arsenal; and to devise ways and means for the efficient mobilization of civilian industry to augment the production of the government arsenal in an emergency.
c. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of National Defense, the Director of the Government Arsenal shall have such number of military and civilian personnel as the Director may deem necessary, by detail, whenever possible, from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
d. No person shall be appointed Director of the Government Arsenal, unless he or she be a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a person with technical education, and with at least five (5) years experience in MUNITION.
SECTION 3. Location. — The government arsenal and all other plants to be established shall be located and constructed at such places suitable and consistent with the safety of communities adjacent to such plants and with the requirements of security and the principles of modern warfare.
SECTION 4. Appropriations. — For the purposes provided for in this Act, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated and made available from funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of ______________________________________________ pesos (P_________) to implement initially the provisions of this Act for a period of ___________ fiscal years: Provided, however, That of the said amount, not more than __________________________ shall be spent for overhead expenses, nor more than _________________________ for fixed assets nor more than ______________________ for working capital.
SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of National Defense shall issue the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 6. Repeal. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or any part thereof, including the provisions of Republic Act No. 1884 establishing the government arsenal and Executive Order No. 292 also known as the “Administrative Code of 1987”, which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette, or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved:
HON. JUAN MAKABAYAN
Senator
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