Government Arsenal The Government Arsenal ( GA ) is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of National Defense , responsible for the production of basic weaponry and ammunition for the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP ) , and the Philippine National Police ( PNP ) , among others , and for the sale and export of products in excess of AFP / PNP requirements . History . The Government Arsenal ( GA ) is located on a 370 - hectare defense industrial estate in Lamao , Limay , Bataan , about 120 km from Manila by land , 70 km from Subic and 90 km from Clark . Just three km from the Port of Limay , the Arsenal is strategically situated near the Petron Bataan Refinery , the Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant , the National Power Corporation Plant , the Petro - Chemical Complex , and the Special Economic Zone at Mariveles , Bataan . To sustain its operations , the GA presently maintains and operates 124 buildings and structures sprawled over 70 hectares of land . A creation of Republic Act No . 1884 which was signed into law on June 22 , 1957 , the Arsenal is a line bureau under the Department of National Defense . However , it was only about a decade later , on March 7 , 1967 , that a presidential proclamation on its present site at Limay , Bataan was declared . Accordingly , on October 12 , 1967 , the ground breaking materialized at the spot where the statue of General Antonio Luna now stands . Site preparations were subsequently undertaken by the 514th and 564th Engineering Construction Battalions of the 51st Engineering Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP ) . Construction of essential buildings and facilities then followed along with training abroad of selected military and newly hired civilian personnel on the manufacture of small arms ammunition ( SAA ) . On August 15 , 1971 , or fourteen ( 14 ) years after the enactment of Republic Act 1884 , the first SAA cartridge rolled out of the GA ' s production assembly line . Three years later , the integrated SAA manufacture began , with all the components - case , primer , propellant powder , and bullet assembled into a complete cartridge - manufactured in the arsenal . As a strategic resource , the arsenal is envisioned to be a center for defense industries to meet domestic requirements and supply the world market . In line with this vision , the GA explored in the early 1980s , the possibility of exporting excess production , improving ammunition technology and expanding the capability for weapons production as called for in its charter . However , the impediments under the then existing laws prevented any real progress in this direction . Modernization . On February 23 , 1995 , Republic Act 7898 , otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act , was enacted . 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 ) , and for the sale and export of products in excess of AFP / PNP requirements . " Furthermore , the GA is authorized to use such production facilities as it may own or be provided under the law or as it may arrange under joint venture , co - production or similar arrangements with local and foreign entities . 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 . This marks a significant expansion of existing production lines . As of the most recent supplemental bulletin for the bid , bids for this acquisition were to have been opened on 4 December 2009 . Government Arsenal Modernization Act . In July 1 , 2010 , Congressman Albert Garcia sponsored the House Bill 0076 , also known as the " Government Arsenal Modernization Act " . Congressmen Mel Sarmiento , Francis Ortega , and Leopoldo Bataoil are listed as co - sponsors . The bill sought to implement the following four - phase , 6 . 3 billion peso , modernization program : Projected budget : One Billion Three Hundred Forty Million Pesos ( P1 . 340B ) " The Arsenal shall acquire various equipment necessary to enhance ts capability and increase its annual capacity in the production of Small Arms ( ammunition ) to a level where t can fully support the Small Arms Ammunition requirements of the AFP , PNP , and other government law enforcement agencies in accordance with its modernization objectives . Phase I shall be aimed at increasing its annual Small Arms Ammunition production to meet the overall Small Arms Ammunition requirements of all defense and law enforcement agencies . Projected budget : Two Billion Pesos ( P2 . 0B ) for a period of four years " The Arsenal shall acquire necessary equipment and technologies to develop its capabilities in the field of weapons manufacture to a level where it can truly perform its lawful mandate . The Arsenal shall likewise continuously conduct research and development activities in accordance with the spirit of Self - Reliant Defense Posture ( SRDP ) Program of the government in order to gain insights and finally develop technical capability in the manufacture of weapons that are vital to support the mission of the AFP , PNP and other law enforcement agencies . " Projected budget : Five Hundred Million Pesos ( P500M ) " The Arsenal shall be transformed from its present status as a mere small arms ammunition manufacturer into a multi - task - capable agency by establishing various facilities with necessary equipment and appropriate technology to hone and harness its technical know - how in the conduct of tests and evaluation of an assortment of defense material . " Projected budget : Four Hundred Ninety - two Million Pesos ( P492M ) for a period of five years " The Arsenal shall require suitable equipment and the attendant technology and establish facilities to develop its capability in the manufacturer of medium and large caliber ammunition . " This bill has been pending with the House Committee on National Defense since July 27 , 2010 . Headstamp code for ammunition . Small arms ammunition manufactured by the Government Arsenal can be identified by the headstamp code : " RPA " . This acronym stands for " Republic of the Philippines Arsenal " .