Is PH ready to build its own warships? A local company thinks so

From CNN Philippines (Jan 15, 2021): Is PH ready to build its own warships? A local company thinks so (By David Santos)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) -- As the Philippine Navy eyes foreign shipbuilders to acquire additional multi-mission vessels, including warships and submarines, as part of its long-term modernization program, a local company wants to get a share of the country's defense spending on maritime assets. But it admits the ambitious plan could not be carried out without challenges.

Propmech Corporation, a Manila-based boatbuilder and engine repair company said it is "absolutely 100%" sure it wants to work with the government to develop larger naval assets that could be deployed to the country's territorial waters for long-haul patrol and security.

"The Navy, the government, is an important partner of ours, an important client," Propmech Director Glenn Tong told defense reporters during a virtual conference on Friday. "We are definitely interested and we look forward to, if given the opportunity in the future."

Since its establishment in 1991, the company has sold P7-B worth of maritime vessels to the government, including landing craft utility ships for the Navy, high speed tactical watercraft boats for the Philippine National Police, and aluminum rescue boats for the Philippine Coast Guard.

Propmech's projects include the 12 units of the Navy's multi-purpose attack craft or MPACs, which have now evolved into four variations and were built from 2007 to 2019.

The MPACs play a key role in some of the Navy's internal security and coastal defense operations.

The most notable was in early November last year, when Air Force and Naval operatives intercepted and clashed with the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group in the Sulu Sea, killing all 7 bandits onboard a speedboat. While the Air Force provided aerial support, the Navy used one of its MPAC units to pursue the gunmen at high sea.

Propmech cited the MPAC's "effective ballistic armor" that protected the soldiers while coming under heavy fire from the armed group.

The government, in recent years, has acquired big-ticket items for the Navy abroad, including its first-ever missile-capable frigates from South Korea and two warships from Indonesia. Defense and Navy officials have also expressed interest on patrol vessels from Israel and Australia, as part of the country's continuing efforts to strengthen its naval fleet.

Tong said while Propmech is keen on collaborating with the Navy to design and build bigger ships for territorial defense, he admits local shipbuilders will need more than just the capacity to build and maintain the vessels, but also acquire expertise on "additional electronics, navigation, and certain special capabilities" that their clients will require.

"I think, in terms of the ability to build vessels, the Philippines can actually do a lot. We have some large-sized shipyards. We have some medium-sized shipyards. A lot of the assets can potentially be built here. What we lack is probably the experience, the proven track record," Tong explained.

"It's one thing to be able to physically build the ship, another to have the experience to make a warship," he added.

On the upside, tapping local shipyards to build the Navy's warships can be good for the economy, particularly the labor sector.

Propmech alone currently has about 600 employees.

"One of our advantages (if Navy ships are built locally) is that we can do the maintenance without having to fly engineers from abroad. And we can keep the equipment in good running condition for a long time," Tong said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had previously said instead of outsourcing projects abroad, he favors Philippine-based shipbuilding companies to generate more jobs for Filipinos, both for the development and maintenance of Navy vessels.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/15/Is-PH-ready-to-build-its-own-warships--A-local-company-thinks-so.html