By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has urged ammunition maker Armscor Global Defense Inc. to hike their capacities to supply the growing demand of the local police and military forces.
Lopez encouraged Armscor Chairman Severo Tuason and Vice President Norberto Del Mundo to continue with their expansion and innovation programs during a plant visit Tuesday to Armscor’s manufacturing facility in Marikina.
Armscor’s firearms and ammunitions are proudly made in the Philippines from foundry, molding, to finished high carbon steel gun products. The manufactured quality weapons feature high local content and are offered at competitive prices. Sixty percent of the company’s total output are for exports.
Lopez reiterated to Armscor the government’s thrust to strengthen the country’s manufacturing industry and to create greater manufacturing capacity even as he committed to address the concerns and assist the firearms and ammunition manufacturing sector to be more competitive and productive.
He likewise shared DTI’s initiatives to level the playing field as well as link local manufacturers to investors and buyers.
“It would always be better for the country to always improve capacities to supply so that we generate the jobs locally,” he said.
In 2018, Armscor joined the Israel visit of President Rodrigo Duterte as part of the president’s Philippine business delegation seeking investments and business collaborations between the two nations.
The visit paved way for Armscor to ink a technological agreement with EMTAN Karmiel Ltd that will create a local manufacturing facility for weapons under license from the latter. Their Memorandum of Understanding covered transfer of know-how in weapon manufacturing. Currently, firearm models from Israel are now with the local manufacturer for testing and production feasibility.