The Philippines may shift key air and naval assets to a former US naval base to boost its response time to waters contested by China, officials said on Monday.
Subic Bay, which faces the strategically important South China Sea, was a major US naval facility until 1992 when it was converted into a busy freeport by the Philippine government.
The discussions are preliminary, but utilising Subic for our local navy could ideally be very strategic
“The discussions are preliminary, but utilising Subic for our local navy could ideally be very strategic,” said navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic. “It is a natural deep sea port that can accommodate the warships.”
Department of Defence spokesman Peter Paul Galvez also confirmed the plan, which would include the transfer of two key warships acquired from the US.
He said the naval headquarters near Manila would soon be privatised, while an airport near Subic that was being used by the air force was to undergo expansion soon.
“With this, Subic has been determined as the best alternative for the planned transfer,” Galvez said.
“Subic has a deep water port for the two (warships), it has an existing runway and airport facilities,” he added.