Government Arsenal

GA was established through Republic Act No. 1884, which was signed into law on June 22, 1957,[https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1197110524!.pdf Resolution Introduced by Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon]https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1826/10671/Thesis%20Ava%20Patricia%20Avila%20Final%202016%20(1).pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}} the Arsenal is a line bureau under the Department of National Defense. It was only on March 7, 1967, that a presidential proclamation on its present site at Limay, Bataan was declared.{{cite web | url=https://www.arsenal.mil.ph/profhis.html | title=Historical background of the Government Arsenal }} Accordingly, on October 12, 1967, the groundbreaking materialized at the spot where the statue of General Antonio Luna now stands. The 514th and 564th Engineering Construction Battalions of the 51st Engineering Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were tasked with the construction of GA facilities.

On August 15, 1971, the first SAA cartridge rolled out of the GA's production assembly line. Three years later, the integrated SAA manufacturing began, with all components - case, primer, propellant powder, and bullet assembled into a complete cartridge.

On February 23, 1995, Republic Act 7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act, was enacted.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecorpusjuris.com/legislative/republic-acts/ra-no-7898.php|title=Republic Act No. 7898|date=February 23, 1995|publisher=The Corpus Juris}} Republic Act 7898 likewise provides for the modernization of the Government Arsenal for the development of production capabilities to enhance self-sufficiency in defense requirements. Specifically, Section 12 of this Act mandates that "the government arsenal shall be utilized in the production of basic weapons, ammunition and other munitions for the use of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as for the sale and export of products in excess of AFP/PNP requirements."

As part of the modernization effort, the arsenal, through the Department of National Defense, issued an invitation to bid for a Multi-Station Bullet Assembly Machine for 5.56mm M193/M855 in August 2009.{{cite web | url=https://www.arsenal.mil.ph/moder.html | title=Building-up GA's Capability }} This marked a significant expansion of existing production lines. Bids failed on December 4, 2009, and on March 10, 2010.

On November 15, 2012, the Arsenal established its Small Arms Repair and Upgrade Unit (SARUU) to handle the repair, refurbishment, upgrading, and enhancement of the firearms of the military and law enforcement services.{{cite web |title=G.A. Bullet-in |url=http://www.arsenal.mil.ph/images/gabuljune2014-1.pdf |website=Official website of the Government Arsenal |publisher=Government Arsenal |accessdate=July 1, 2022 |page=9 |date=June 2014 |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109085405/http://www.arsenal.mil.ph/images/gabuljune2014-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}

On November 14, 2018, Arsenal signed a co-production agreement with Samyang Comtech Co. Ltd. of South Korea to manufacturing and testing facilities within the Government Arsenal complex for the produce of armor vests and ballistic helmets.{{cite news |last1=Panti |first1=Llanesca |title=DND inks equipment production deal with South Korean firm |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/674724/dnd-inks-arms-production-deal-with-south-korean-firm/story/ |access-date=June 30, 2022 |publisher=GMA News Online |date=November 14, 2018}}

On April 5, 2019, the arsenal broke ground for two major production facilities under co-production agreements with South Korean firms: a force protection equipment manufacturing plant in partnership with Samyang Comtech and a 5.56mm magazine manufacturing plant in partnership with Buhueng Precision.{{cite news |last1=Mangosing |first1=Frances |title=PH, S. Korea start construction of factory for armor vests, gun magazines |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1103622/ph-s-korea-start-construction-of-factory-for-armor-vests-gun-magazines |access-date=June 28, 2022 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=April 5, 2019}}{{cite web |title=GA begins construction of magazine and FPE manufacturing plants |url=https://www.dnd.gov.ph/Postings/Post/GA%20begins%20construction%20of%20magazine%20and%20FPE%20manufacturing%20plants/ |website=Department of National Defense |access-date=June 30, 2022}}

On May 29, 2021, an accidental explosion killed two GA employees.{{Cite web|url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/29/lorenzana-assures-govt-assistance-to-arsenal-blast-victims|title=Lorenzana assures gov't assistance to arsenal blast victims|website=Manila Bulletin|accessdate=March 27, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529102616/https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/29/lorenzana-assures-govt-assistance-to-arsenal-blast-victims/|archivedate=2021-05-29}}

On June 28, 2022, GA and Bataan City officials signed a memorandum of agreement to expand GA's estate in the freeport area.{{cite web | url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/28/ga-bataan-freeport-forge-pact-to-expand-local-arms-production/ | title=GA, Bataan freeport forge pact to expand local arms production | website=Manila Bulletin }}

On January 23, 2023, DND Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. proposed that ammo made by GA be turned into training ammo due to concerns about ammunition wastage.{{cite web | url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/23/afp-suffers-from-high-level-of-ammo-wastage-says-dnd-chief/ | title=AFP suffers from 'high level' of ammo wastage, says DND chief | website=Manila Bulletin }}

GA is located in Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan on a 370-hectare defense industrial estate.{{cite web | url=https://invest.bataan.gov.ph/engines-of-growth/department-of-defense-arsenal/ | title=Department of Defense Arsenal – Invest in Bataan }} The area has a total of 370.37 hectares.{{cite web | url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177677 | title=Defense industry ecozone to rise in Bataan | website=Philippine News Agency }}

Small arms ammunition manufactured by the Government Arsenal can be identified by the headstamp code: "RPA".{{cite web |title=International Ammunition Association, headstamp codes |url=http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes_bottom.htm#R |publisher=Congress.gov.ph |accessdate=March 27, 2011}} This acronym stands for "Republic of the Philippines Arsenal".

In 2011, a new standard coding system was adopted by the arsenal following its formulation and final approval in October of the previous year. This replaced the previous coding system which was derived from the product codes of foreign manufacturers using a combination of English and Metric/Système International (SI) units.

The revised system uses simplified alphanumeric designations that make reference to the ammunition's caliber and type for ease of identification while avoiding unnecessary complications caused by the use of mixed English & SI units and designations based on different foreign code systems.{{cite web |author1=Kath Reotutar |authorlink1=New Coding System for GA Ammunition |title=G.A. Bullet-in |url=http://arsenal.mil.ph/images/bullet-in.pdf |website=Official website of the Government Arsenal |accessdate=April 4, 2020 |page=4 |date=April 2011}}

To improve the accounting and traceability of government-produced munitions, the Government Arsenal has endeavored to implement laser engraving technology into its ammunition production process as part of the modernization of its production lines, making it the first domestic ammunition manufacturer to do so. This involved the acquisition of a laser marking and packaging machine for use with 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. Information on each ammunition batch produced will be stored in a database allowing for easier accounting of the origin, transfer, receipt, utilization and/or disposal of ammunition.{{cite web |title=G.A. Bullet-in |url=http://www.arsenal.mil.ph/images/gabuljune2014-1.pdf |website=Official website of the Government Arsenal |publisher=Government Arsenal |accessdate=April 4, 2020 |page=8 |date=June 2014 |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109085405/http://www.arsenal.mil.ph/images/gabuljune2014-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Gallery

| title = Government Arsenal Ammunition

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| File:.30 Carbine & .30-06 Springfield.jpg

| alt1=

| .30 Carbine & .30-06 Springfield

| File:.38 Special & 9x19mm Parabellum.jpg

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| .38 Special & 9x19mm Parabellum

| File:.45 ACP Ball.jpg

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| Cal .45, M1911, Ball

| File:.45 ACP Training (Teflon-coated SWC & RN).jpg

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| 45 ACP Training (Teflon-coated SWC & RN)

| File:7.62×37mm Musang cartridges on display.jpg

| alt5=7.62×37mm Musang cartridges

| 7.62×37mm Musang

| File:5.56x45mm Ball (M193).jpg

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| 5.56x45mm Ball (M193)

| File:5.56x45mm Ball (M193), Match (55 gr & 69 gr).jpg

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| 5.56x45mm Ball (M193), Match (55 gr & 69 gr)

| File:5.56x45mm NATO (M855, SS109) & Blank.jpg

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| 5.56x45mm NATO (M855, SS109) & Blank

| File:7.62×51mm NATO Ball (M80).jpg

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| 7.62×51mm NATO Ball (M80)

| File:7.62×51mm NATO Ball (M80A).jpg

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| 7.62×51mm NATO Ball (M80A)

| File:7.62×51mm NATO Blank.jpg

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| 7.62×51mm NATO Blank

| File:7.62×51mm NATO Match (168gr.).jpg

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| 7.62×51mm NATO Match (168 gr)

| File:Government Arsenal Ammo Crates.jpg

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| HDPE ammunition crates

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• GA 10" Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)
• 7.62×37mm Musang
• Marine Scout Sniper Rifle

{{reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|https://arsenal.mil.ph/gwt/}}
• {{Official website|https://arsenal.mil.ph/index.html|Old Website}}

{{Department of National Defense of the Philippines}}

{{commons category|Government Arsenal (GA)}}

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Category:Military facilities in Bataan

Category:Firearm manufacturers of the Philippines

Category:Ammunition manufacturers