The US Navy is set to pursue the establishment of a military storage facility in close proximity to its former base at Subic Bay in the Philippines, an area that is strategically positioned near disputed regions in the South China Sea. This initiative involves leasing a substantial 25,778-square-meter (277,471-square-foot) climate-controlled warehouse and maintenance shop, alongside various exterior laydown and parking areas, for a period of five years. This information was unveiled through a Request for Lease Proposal.
The planned facility is designed for the storage and maintenance of vehicles and their accompanying equipment. In terms of personnel accommodation, it is expected to support up to 63 individuals, with operations slated to kick off by September 2026. The US Navy has also specified that the facility must be located within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of the Naval Supply Depot.
This latest development follows an earlier solicitation in April that sought storage facilities of variable sizes—ranging from approximately 19,979 to 33,022 square meters (215,017 to 355,576 square feet)—in either Subic Bay or Clark, with a proposed lease period of up to 10 years.
Historically, Subic Bay was one of the largest US naval bases in Asia until the expiration of the amended Military Bases Agreement of 1947 in 1991. The Philippine government’s refusal to extend the lease led to the base’s closure and the withdrawal of US forces by 1992. Subsequently, the area was transformed into a special economic zone, with most of the naval infrastructure either dismantled or repurposed.
However, the US military presence has gradually been reestablished, particularly since 2012 when portions of the former base started being utilized for joint military exercises with Filipino forces. Although the request for the military storage hub remains under consideration, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has voiced the government’s openness to potential US plans for an ammunition production and storage facility at the former naval site. He emphasized that any entity contributing to the Philippines’ resilience—while also fostering job creation and technological transfers—would be welcomed.
