President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday signed the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Revitalization Act to bolster the country’s defense strategies through the strength of its own resources and capabilities.
“We lay today the foundation of resilience shaped by our own ingenuity, our own talent, and our unwavering resolve,” President Marcos said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the law in Malacañang.
“Through this Act, we can build on its legacy and expand upon that same vision—a defense posture that is independent, dynamic, and geared to the future,” the President added.
President Marcos said the SRDP law is designed to cultivate a robust and sustainable National Defense Industry by establishing a structured approach to defense development.
This will begin with research and production capabilities aligned with the country’s defense sector and strategic objectives, he said.
According to the President, the law prioritizes research and development to enhance and update defense systems to meet unique requirements and stay ahead of evolving threats, particularly asymmetrical threats that traditional systems may effectively address.
“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,” the President said.
“It is a commitment to a long-term growth trajectory for a national defense industry that will support the defense requirements of our country. It’s a logical move forward for a country that finds itself at the fulcrum of geopolitical shifts and volatilities.”
By consolidating these efforts, the President vowed to ensure that every peso spent and every effort made directly contribute to achieve the goal of self-reliance.
Before concluding his speech, the President called for support from private sectors and research institutions to achieve this vision.
“By establishing a clear framework to guide public-private partnerships, we are saying to local innovative councils, invention societies, universities, and other learning institutions, it is our chance to contribute to something greater—to help us protect the sovereignty and security of our nation,” the President said.
“To the private sector, it is an invitation to build an enduring defense industry. To our esteemed research institutions, let your innovations shape our future and propel us toward self-reliance. And to our Armed Forces, understand this: we pledge that the Filipino soldier will be bolstered by the ingenuity and the expertise of the Filipino innovator. So together, let us build a robust defense industry that enhances national security, strengthens defense capabilities, and reinforces economic growth.”
The National Defense Industry Development Plan will serve as the Act’s guiding document, outlining the principles and goals that will shape the Philippine defense sector in the coming years.
The SRDP Program was initially implemented under the leadership of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. (PCO)
