Page 2 EDITORIAL Something great at forty- After the painstaking efforts of GA’s abled staff eight…. and executives and collaborative linkages with With the Government Arsenal (GA) concerned government institutions, the GA Master going on forty-eight (48) years in Development Plan (MDP) was finally approved by existence this year, it is soon the Secretary of National Defense. This has a realizing the transformation into a Government Arsenal Defense major effect on our future, to ensure that we will Industrial Estate (GADIE) with the have direction on where we want to go and ensure recent approval of its Master also that our legal mandate under RA 1884 and the AFP Modernization Development Plan (MDP) by the Secretary of National Defense. Act will be achieved. The MDP is the last step before GA becomes an Economic Processing Zone. Complementing this is the recent approval Said MDP is necessary for the proper zoning of the 340 -hect are also of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) as supporting defense industrial estate in order to document for said economic zone to be worked out with the PEZA. identify appropriate locations for the various defense industries that shall This year, GA’s thrust is also geared towards construction of more be established there, with different needed facilities such as raw materials and finished products modes of investment like Public - warehouses, and enhancement of ballistics and laboratory facilities to Private Partnership, BOT, JV, etc. In line with this project is the conversion be able to cope with the increasing production and capabilities of said estate into an Economic upgrade. Processing Zone in order to avail of tax and other business incentives. When I came to the Arsenal, the way I see it, it is not really an These initiatives will keep the ball Arsenal then, but only an ammunition plant. It should also be rolling and by 2016, defense industries may start sprawling up in enggaged in manufacture of weapons. Besides higher small arms the area. ammunition production, our goal is eventual in-house manufacture of All these efforts are geared weapons, which presently, we are sustaining the capability to produce towards a genuine support to revive the parts through the Small Arms Repair and Upgrade Unit (SARUU). the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program of the government. Defense Self-reliance and capability upgrade should be the agenda of the day. GA Bullet-in Editorial Board and Staff Editorial Board Chairman - Dir. Jonathan C Martir Vice Chairman - Asst. Dir. Villamor B Villa Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief - Ms. Teresita L Vitug, CESE Assistant Editor-in-Chief - Ms. Hiyasmin Karunungan Production Manager - Mr. Roger Gamban Circulation Manager - Ms. Susan Narciso Staff Writers Design/Lay-out Artist Mr. Murbie Narciso Engr. Jeaneth Espinosa Mr. Giovanni Cortez Engr. Dennis Chua Mr. Roger Gamban Photographer Engr. Czarina Daclan Mr. Lucky Bondoc Ms. Cheyene Sanico Mr. Arthur Magbanua GA Modernization… An Accurate Shot to the Future Page 3 ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT ARSENAL DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE The Master Development Plan (MDP) for the Government Following are the proposed defense industries: Arsenal Defense Industrial Estate (GADIE) was finally approved by Secretary Voltaire T Gazmin of the Department of National Defense Phase 1. Development of Defense Industrial Estate (DND), while the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the MDP was already granted and issued on April 24, 2015. Administration Zone. New GA Administration Building, The MDP is needed to establish the proper zoning of Engineering Office, COA Office, Multi-purpose Hall, DIE infrastructures to be located in the GA estate, while the ECC is a Administration Building, Entry Processing and Security Area, Hotel requirement of the GADIE application for issuance of presidential and Service Apartment, Convenience Store, Commercial Spaces, proclamation as Special Economic Zone. Said ECC shall cover the New Emergency Hospital and Sports Complex development of the GADIE Project (Group II-E.15) covering a total land Housing Zone. Executive Housing, and the Staff Housing of 30 area of 340 hectares. hectares total area as per Presidential Proclamation No. 371. (The The GADIE will be developed to serve as the center for the latter is excluded from the MDP) manufacture of various products to support the country’s defense and Non-Explosive Zone. Rifle Manufacturing Plant, Brass Rolling security requirements. Any excess in the local requirements will be sold Mill, KIA Motor Plant, etc. in the global market. This project shall include appropriate locations, Explosive Zone. Manufacture of Medium and High Caliber road network and various infrastructures that would be constructed, Ammunition, Melt Loading Facility of PAF, and other projects. relative to the manufacture of defense materials to include company housing area and attendant facilities. Phase 2. Improvement and Expansion of Existing GA Facilities – As recommended by the private Consultant and in consideration The existing GA will be retained as a purely Government-operated and of the existing GA facilities and the continuous operation thereof, the managed facility, with its improvement and expansion of facilities MDP was prepared to satisfy the identified demands. The strategy dependent on the needs and priorities of the AFP/PNP and as per includes the delineation of the development into phase separating the programs and budget allocation by the National Government. new development areas from the improvement and expansion areas Non-Explosive Zone. Leadwire Manufacturing Plant, Case & to avoid the mix-up in projects and management. The new Bullet Division Raw Material Warehouse and Planning & Logistics development which will be referred to as Phase 1, will be a prospect for Division Warehouse. a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) undertaking, while the improvement Explosive Zone. Primer Loading Plant, TNR Manufacturing Plant, and expansion of the existing GA referred to as Phase 2, will definitely additional cartridge magazines, 40mm and other medium caliber be dependent on the programs and budget passed by the ammo manufacturing plant, ball powder manufacturing plant, NC government, the GA being a line bureau under the DND. and NG manufacturing plants, melt loading facility of PAF, and There will be two major zoning classifications to be applied at both others. phases – the Non-Explosive Zone and the Explosive Zone, where the The other areas that are part of Phase 1 are the existing staff first classification refers to the location for defense related industries housing, Elitool Plant areas, Hospital, Assembly (Social) Hall and that are not in the manufacture of hazardous products, including the school buildings. Administration and Housing Zones; and the second one refers to defense-related industries which are hazardous in nature, as well as The improvement and expansion of the existing GA facilities munitions storage facilities and the like which require adequate spaces (Phase 2) will be set at a time when the Phase 1 developments have and buffers. been substantially completed, but GA may also opt to do this simultaneously. GA Modernization… An Accurate Shot to the Future Page 4 SMALL ARMS REPAIR AND UPGRADE UNIT Towards continued capability building limitations. Part of SARUU’s success rests on strengthening the It’s been three and a half years since the creation of the bonds between GA’s mission / vision to every military and law Small Arms Repair and Upgrade Unit (SARUU) on January enforcement’s needs. SARUU was borne to navigate through 24, 2012, and it has gained remarkable progress in the the challenges of the past three (3) years of its existence and production of small arms. Part of the initiatives of the GA’s such will continue to be a guide in its current activities and in modernization program is the support to the Self-Reliant the years ahead. Defense Posture (SRDP) program of the government, in addition to the full realization of the agency’s mission and mandate. ACCOMPLISHMENTS SARUU’s continuous venture into weapons technologies, SARUU’s mission is to repair, refurbish, upgrade and especially in small arms RRUE, paved the way for the enhance (RRUE) small arms firearms of the Armed Forces of following accomplishments: the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies. At Refurbishment of 1,740 units M16A1 for the AFP; present, 24 personnel composed of 22 civilians and 2 active Repair and upgrade of 21 units M16A1 and 32 units military personnel are manning the unit. M1911A1 Cal.45 for the DISG; 170 units M16A1 for the Philippine Marine Corps and 70 units M1911A1 for the The strength of SARUU lies in the clarity of its vision and Philippine Navy; its willingness to adapt to the needs of the AFP. The sense of Repair of 50 units of Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) satisfaction felt by SARUU personnel with every and Light Machine Gun (LMG) for the different units of the accomplishment is balanced by the realization that without the AFP. support of the Director Arsenal MGen Jonathan C Martir AFP (Ret) and hard work of SARUU personnel, this unit would be nothing. SARUU’s stories of accomplishment continues in the succeeding words and images. Though these will never fully capture SARUU’s sense of pride in effectively responding to HOW SARUU STARTED the needs of the AFP, perhaps through this write up, it will The unit somehow describe the sense started with a of gratification the personnel manning of thirteen of SARUU feel whenever (13) personnel they reach milestone of composed of two achievements. (2) engineers, one (1) active military SARUU, in its continuous officer, three (3) research to upgrade regular personnel weapons, Mil-Specs Type III and seven (7) Hard Coat Anodize, Manganese contract of service Phosphate and Cerakote Finish (COS) personnel. are now being undertaken. SARUU table of These surface finishing organization (TO) has a proposed manning of 43 personnel, processes provide superior and is still being filled up.