President Marcos signed the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Revitalization Act, which expands on the defense strategy set by his father and namesake to “serve and protect” Filipino citizens and our national sovereignty.
“The SRDP Program, implemented under my father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., set the stage for a more self-reliant defense strategy, urging us to tap into our own resources and capabilities,” the Chief Executive said at the signing ceremony Tuesday morning.
President Marcos said the revitalized law aims to cultivate a robust and sustainable National Defense Industry by establishing a structured approach to defense development. It will have its own research and development (R&D) capabilities that align with the strategic objectives of the sector.
“We will prioritize R&D to develop systems that meet our unique requirements [and] stay ahead of evolving threats—particularly asymmetrical threats that traditional systems may not be completely equipped to address,” he explained.
“The strategy is clear: we start by strengthening the foundations—the research, the production capabilities, and institutional support—then build upwards, layer by layer, until we have an industry that can stand strong and succeed on its own,” President Marcos added.
The National Defense Industry Development Plan will guide the government in implementing the law. “It prioritizes the production of critical defense materiel here at home—from small arms and tactical vehicles to more sophisticated systems,” according to the President.
The plan also covers cybersecurity breaches, chemical attacks, radiological threats, among other challenges, as the President acknowledged these “are more than hypothetical risks but pressing realities.”
“With this Act, we are broadening our perspective on defense. We are not just looking at tanks and rifles; we are building capacities that address these unconventional dangers head-on,” Mr. Marcos said.
The law also introduces a comprehensive incentive scheme for those interested in investing in defense technology and production, including tax breaks to government-backed financing. It likewise contained provisions to prohibit the sale of defense materiel to private entities.
Present at the signing ceremony were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senate President Francis Escudero, and other members of the 19th Congress, who worked to ensure the enactment of the law under the Marcos administration.
