The Department of National Defense (DND) has begun acquiring land for a new naval base in Subic, as announced by Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. during a Senate hearing on the proposed P254.1 billion budget for the DND on Tuesday.
Secretary Teodoro revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed discussions with officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) regarding the purchase of space to be utilized by the Philippine Navy.
He noted that a suitable location for the main operating base has already been identified, with hopes to complete construction before the end of 2028, coinciding with the conclusion of President Marcos’s term.
Teodoro explained that new facilities are essential for upcoming assets that the Philippine Navy plans to acquire, including ten corvettes and frigates by late 2028.
Currently, the Navy lacks a dedicated dockyard and is in the process of securing a new naval dockyard and forward operating bases (FOBs).
It is noteworthy that Subic Bay served as a U.S. naval base from the time of American colonization until its closure in September 1991.