The Philippines’ largest defense manufacturer, Armscor Global Defense Inc., remains bullish about 2026 after hurdling several challenges last year that included stiff tariffs imposed by the United States, and a six-month nationwide gun ban due to the midterm elections.
“Last year was difficult, but this is a recovery year,” confidently stated new Armscor president and CEO Gina Marie Angangco during a briefing with select members of media at the company’s Marikina headquarters.
Appointed recently after the untimely demise of former president and CEO Martin Tuason late last year, Angangco – who has been with Armscor for over three decades and is the first female and non-Tuason family member to lead the mammoth company – said she will continue the Tuason legacy when “navigating new challenges of conflict, supply chain pressures, and innovating technology.”
Armscor, which is home to over 1,000 employees, has since introduced modern technology in its operations, resulting in increased capacity, capability and precision.
“We have over 170 computer numerically controlled or CNC machines, and also advanced robotics to ensure world-class quality,” disclosed Angangco, adding that fully integrated systems from design to production have allowed scale and flexibility in their operations.
Innovation has enabled the company to expand beyond traditional firearms into modern defense technologies, digital manufacturing, and new product lines. There are also plans to set up another manufacturing facility within Luzon because the Marikina plant, which produces thousands of firearms and millions of rounds of ammunition annually, has become “very crowded” with “no more room for expansion.”
According to Angangco, they are also eyeing new markets following the company’s successful participation at the 2026 Defense Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with several countries expressing interest for Armscor to supply them with ammunition and discuss opportunities to set up manufacturing facilities similar to the company’s plant in Montana in the United States.
The company has also partnered with the Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) to put up a school offering gunsmithing services at the Marikina plant to ensure proper training for gunsmiths. The gunsmithing course has also generated a lot of interest from law enforcement personnel who “want to know how to properly service their firearms,” shared Angangco, a Philippine Army reservist with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
As a staunch advocate of the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program and the only surviving company that supported the original initiative in 1974 that seeks to develop a local defense industry that would allow the military and law enforcement agencies to be less dependent on foreign suppliers, Angangco says Republic Act 12024 or the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act solves a lot of issues faced by local manufacturers.
“We continue to champion SRDP, advocating for a defense industry that is locally driven, globally competitive and strategically viable,” Armscor’s top executive discloses.
However, the law which has yet to be implemented since it was signed in 2024, “still requires more studies to create alignment between the government, the military and the private sector. We have to talk about how the defense industry can bridge the gap between capabilities and the needs of our country,” she avers.
A bright spot is Republic Act No. 11981 or the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, a landmark Philippine law that empowers local industries and make them globally competitive.
Among the nine strategic industries given priority by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Tatak Pinoy Strategy ( a 10-year national industrial roadmap) is defense manufacturing because of its potential to drive economic complexity, high value employment and global competitiveness. Under the law, government agencies are required to prioritize local products and services from qualified companies in their procurement.
“Our presence at the recent Tatak Pinoy Expo was more than symbolic. It proved that Filipino craftsmanship can stand on the global stage and earn lasting trust,” Angangco stated.
Amid global uncertainties, the company is set to continue expanding to new markets, modernize its capabilities and invest in its human resources.
“We see global uncertainty as both a challenge and opportunity. Conflicts abroad, inflationary pressures, and supply chain disruptions remind us why self-reliance matters. We see opportunities not only to grow commercially but to strengthen our country’s defense posture and contribute to peace and stability in the region,” the Armscor CEO asserted.
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