The Philippine government has approved the allocation of 300 hectares of land within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental for the development of a new naval base, marking a major step in strengthening national defense and regional industrial capacity in Mindanao.
The site, part of a 3,000-hectare ecozone covering Tagoloan and Villanueva, will be titled under the Department of National Defense and developed into a modern naval base equipped with drydock and dockyard facilities suitable for frigates and submarines. Its deep-sea access and long coastal frontage make it strategically ideal for naval operations.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the acquisition, noting the urgent need for a new facility as the existing base in Cavite is already congested. The new naval base will also accommodate eight vessels arriving from South Korea beginning next year, in line with the Philippine Navy’s modernization program.
The base is expected to serve as the center of naval operations for Northern Mindanao and the Visayas, supporting both defense readiness and local economic development within the Phividec Industrial Estate, which is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
Previously earmarked for a major shipbuilding project by Hanjin Heavy Industries, the area will now play a key role in advancing both the country’s maritime security and industrial growth in Mindanao.
(Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)
