Gov’t, private firms give more typhoon aid - SBMA launches donation drive

Government agencies and private companies have sent more donations to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas.

Last Monday, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Roberto Garcia launched a campaign to gather donations from companies and employees in Subic.

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines, a South Korean shipbuilder based in Subic Bay, donated 2,041 sacks of rice worth P4 million and these were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Hanjin has responded to our call for donations to help our government in the relief efforts. Other locators here are also having their own way of collecting goods that they may send to the typhoon victims,” Garcia said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has sent an initial 10,000 family emergency medical (FEM) kits to the typhoon victims in Leyte and Samar.

The FEM kits contain medicine for common illnesses such as fever, cough, colds and diarrhea.

Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO general manager, said the FEM kits will be distributed in evacuation centers where displaced families took refuge at the height of the typhoon.

PCSO chairman Margarita Juico said the PCSO Board of Directors also made it a policy to subsidize the hospital bills of patients directly affected by calamities who are being treated at government hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The policy was applied after Typhoons Sendong and Pablo, the monsoon floods in 2012, landslide in Compostela Valley and other natural calamities in the past.

Meanwhile, the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (AMWSLAI), the second largest non-stock savings and loan association in the country, has started giving calamity loans at reduced interest rate to its members in calamity-stricken areas in the Visayas. It also devised a system that will speed up the processing and release of loans.

There are more than 207,000 AMWSLAI members all over the country, most of them soldiers and policemen and their families.

“To pay tribute to their unparalleled heroism and patriotism and to assist them rise above and rebuild their livelihood, AMWSLAI has started giving out calamity loans at reduced interest rate for its members who were adversely affected by the two recent calamities: the earthquake in Bohol and Super Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern, Central and Western Visayas,” AMWSLAI chairman Ricardo Nolasco Jr. said.

The Board of Trustees of AMWSLAI also gave donations in kind and in cash, including the budget for their Christmas party this year, and mobilized its personnel to help in rehabilitation efforts.

Maynilad Water Services, Inc., on the other hand, donated potable water, food and other relief items.

Its employees also helped in relief operations. They proceeded to the DSWD National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City to help load relief goods to delivery trucks that will transport the items to relief centers.

Samar group airs appeal

Convenors of a newly formed group of Samareños aired an urgent appeal to fellow Samareños here and abroad for help in rebuilding communities in two Samar provinces that have been devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Tindog SAMAR convenors, led by Omi Royandoyan, Rene Nachura and Charo Cabardo, said victims of the typhoon in both Eastern Samar and the main Samar province deserve more than solemn prayers. They need immediate relief for their survival.

“We urge big businesses, international aid agencies, non-government organizations, and Samarnon patronal organizations in Metro Manila and in the United States to help the towns of Basey and Marabut in Samar; and Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Hernani, MacArthur, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan in Eastern Samar,” Tindog SAMAR said in a statement.

Convened a week after Yolanda slammed into the country, Tindog SAMAR aims to help facilitate relief and rehabilitation operations in Samar.

Tindog SAMAR convenors saw the need to form the organization to help extend the reach of relief operations, especially for typhoon victims in both Samar provinces who have yet to get help.

Meanwhile, the local government of Legazpi, in partnership with Sunwest Group Holding Co. Inc. and other private firms, is deploying more aid to Central Visayas.

Team Bicol is sending additional dump trucks, a boom truck and fuel tanker together with a 19-man contingent of electricians, mechanics and cooks from Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. and Misibis Bay.

Other volunteers from private firms in Legazpi City were also mobilized to augment the first team of Sunwest volunteers who first arrived in Leyte on Nov. 12.

Team Bicol has deployed more than 20 dump trucks and earth moving machines courtesy of Sunwest Group. The team is currently helping in massive clearing operations in Palo, Leyte.

Container vans donated to Red Cross

Harbour Center Port Area Inc. donated 40-footer and 20-footer container vans with generator and air conditioner to the Philippine Red Cross. These vans will serve as blood bank and PRC office in Tacloban, replacing the temporary blood facility in Leyte Park Hotel.

Chairman Richard Gordon said the PRC has augmented blood supply in Leyte, particularly at the Divine Word Hospital and other areas in the Visayas hit by Yolanda, from the PRC headquarters blood bank in Manila and Cebu City chapter.

Cebu Pacific continues humanitarian flights

Cebu Pacific, for its part, continues to operate daily flights between Cebu and Tacloban and Manila and Tacloban.

The airline reserves seats for humanitarian purposes in its Tacloban flights.

Cebu Pacific has also transported 3,000 kilos of relief goods from the GMA Kapuso Foundation to Iloilo; another 3,000 kilos to Cebu and 9,000 kilos of relief goods to Tacloban earlier this week.

The airline will be transporting an additional 30,000 kilos of relief goods to Tacloban. (Perseus Echeminada, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva, Ric Sapnu, Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/11/22/1259499/govt-private-firms-give-more-typhoon-aid

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Hanjin Subic shipyard donates P4-M rice for “Yolanda” victims

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil), a South Korean shipbuilder based in Subic Bay, has donated 2,041 sacks of rice for the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas region.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said the rice donation, with an estimated value of P4 million, was transported by Hanjin to Pasay City where it was formally turned over to representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Last Monday, Garcia formally launched a campaign to gather donations from Subic-registered companies and their employees for typhoon victims in Tacloban and other areas devastated by Yolanda.

First to heed the call was the SBMA Fire and Rescue Team, which donated P10,000 of the cash award they recently received for winning the 2013 Kalasag Awards in the national level for urban search and rescue.

“Hanjin has responded to our call for donations to help our government in the relief efforts. Other locators here are also having their own way of collecting goods that they may send to the typhoon victims,” Garcia said.

Meanwhile, HHIC-Phil managing director Joong Gyu Kim, on behalf of his company, commiserated with the Filipino people in the wake of the typhoon which killed thousands in the Visayas.

“We express our deepest sympathy to those affected by this great human tragedy,” Kim said in a statement.

“We join hands with the Filipino nation in this hour of need to at least ease the suffering of the people hit by such disasters of immeasurable proportions,” Kim added.

As a business locator here, HHIC-Philippines has been actively pursuing corporate social responsibility projects and initiatives which focus on the improvement of public infrastructure, education, health, disaster response, employee welfare, and human resource development.

On November 5, HHIC-Phils received a Certificate of Recognition and Plaque of Excellence from the Philippine Board of Investments (BoI) for its outstanding efforts in implementing various CSR programs in local communities. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA opens ID processing center at Hanjin shipyard

Thousands of workers employed by Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC-Phil) will now benefit from extension services provided by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) after the agency opened on Monday an ID Processing Center (IDPC) right at the main gate of the South Korean shipbuilder’s shipyard.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the center will cater to nearly 20,000 personnel working 24/7 on three shifts at HHIC-Phil’s US$1.6-billion facility at the Redondo Peninsula here, which is now the fourth largest shipbuilding facility in the world.

“This project will provide workers of Hanjin and its affiliate companies added convenience when it’s time to renew their SBMA ID’s and gate passes. Now, they don’t have to cross the bay just to avail of SBMA services — we brought the processing center to their doorstep,” Garcia added.

The newly-opened IDPC located at the HHIC main gate is maintained by personnel from the SBMA Labor Department, Law Enforcement Department (LED), and Office Services Department (OSD), which are all tasked to facilitate the issuance of new SBMA IDs.

Atty. Ramon Agregado, who is SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations, said the IDPC project translates to more efficient service by the SBMA and less foot traffic at its main ID processing center.

“This cuts both ways,” Agregado noted. “On one hand you ease the difficulty for nearly 20,000 workers having to cross Subic Bay only for badging. On the other hand, we make it less chaotic at the SBMA badging office.”

OSD Manager Gerardo Hermoso said the center is expecting to process an average of 200 ID applications and renewals each day, prioritizing those that have already expired.

Hermoso said that to avail of badging services, the workers would have to visit the IDPC only once to have their photographs taken. Payment will then be made through salary deduction, and the new IDs will be released by the HHIC-Phil Human Resource Department.

He added that SBMA is also considering the possibility of extending IDPC operations for two more hours to accommodate workers whose shift ends at 5:00 p.m.

“This may seem to be a just a puny effort on the part of the SBMA, but with this scheme we eliminate the need for workers to be absent from work because they can have their photo taken right here at the shipyard. After work, they can drop by the IDPC, have their photos taken, then after just a few minutes, exit the gate and head for home,” Hermoso said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Ramon Agregado (left) and HHIC-Phil Deputy Managing Director Kim Joong Gyu cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the satellite ID Processing Center for employees at the Hanjin shipyard in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The satellite office was established to provide convenience to nearly 20,000 workers of Hanjin and its affiliate companies.

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S. Korea’s Philippine investments reach $3.8B

CLARK FREEPORT – South Korean investments in the Philippines have reached an estimated $3.8-billion, an official from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea shared Wednesday.

South Korean Minister and Consul General Min Kyong- Ho said that amount includes the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. based at the Subic Bay Freeport and a thermal power plant based in Batangas.

Kyong-Ho also said that trade volume between the Philippines and South Korea has reached $11.5 million as of October.

He explained that the amount exceeded the expected $10-million trade volume between the two countries.

Kyong- Ho added that the Korean Consulate now expects a total of $12-million in trade volume before the end of 2013.

“I would like to thank the Filipino people for welcoming and helping Korean communities here. We would be happy to see a lot of your countrymen to participate in our cultural events,” Kyong- Ho said.

Aside from investing, Kyong-Ho added that Philippines is one of the favorite vacation destinations of Korean, most especially during their winter season.

“It is now winter in Korea hence the Philippines should expect more Korean tourists to arrive in the country,” he said. (Mark Manuel, Manila Bulletin)

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/s-koreas-philippine-investments-reach-3-8b/

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SBMA to assist in security of Hanjin shipyard

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will be deploying personnel from its Law Enforcement Department (LED) to assist in the security of the Hanjin shipbuilding facility here and help guarantee the safety of workers and properties therein.

The assistance is contained in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed recently by SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC)–Philippines, Inc. representative Joong-Gyu Kin.

Garcia said the deployment of SBMA-LED personnel in the shipyard and its vicinity will improve police visibility in the area and deter unlawful activities.

Under RA 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the security of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the maintenance of peace and order therein falls under the responsibility of the SBMA through its law enforcement unit.

Under the MOA, six uniformed and armed LED personnel will be detailed inside the shipbuilding facility owned and operated by HHIC-Phils., the biggest locator in the Freeport with US$2 billion in investments.

“Hanjin’s shipyard in Subic is located far from the Freeport’s Central Business District or local police stations. Putting up a LED detachment in the area will strengthen our efforts to maintain peace and order there,” Garcia added.

The Hanjin facility is located in the mountainous Redondo Peninsula, which is politically a part of Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales. It is about 20 minutes by boat across Subic Bay or some 30-minutes’ drive from the Freeport.

Garcia said that under the agreement, HHIC-Phils will also provide adequate and suitable quarters for the use of LED officers, communication equipment, and other provisions necessary for the conduct of patrol operations with the firm’s internal security group.

LED personnel will also help in enforcing laws, including traffic rules and regulations; arrest and investigate violators of laws, except violation of criminal laws which shall be coordinated with municipal police stations; and other appropriate security actions. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Hanjin Phil. delivers 2 Bulk Carriers to Rio Tinto Shipping

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. - Philippines (HHIC-Phil Inc.) reached yet another milestone when it held the simultaneous unveiling of 2 newly-built Bulk Carriers in its modern 30-hectare shipyard in Redondo Peninsula on April 16, 2013.

The vessels, named after famous explorers Christopher Columbus and Abel Tasman, were the 7th and 8th ships purchased by leading international mining group Rio Tinto Shipping Limited.

"RTM Columbus" and "RTM Tasman," which both tipped the scale at 106,796 tons, will have London in the United Kingdom as their homeport.

Last January, Hanjin also delivered to England-based Rio Tinto executives the two vessels, M/V "RTM Cabot" and M/V "RTM Drake, each worth about 60 M USD respectively.

Attending the event in Hanjin's modern shipyard in Subic for the unveiling of "RTM Columbus" and "RTM Tasman" were Ms. AnnbelMcGagh and Mrs. Wendy Smith, together with HHIC-Phil Inc. senior officials, Rio Tinto executives Alastair Fischbacher, Allan Smith and John McGagh, and representatives from classification society Lloyd's Register.

Since 2008, HHIC-Phil Inc. has now delivered a total of 51 vessels amounting to over 3 B USD for various overseas clients mostly engaged in international trade and maritime solutions, thereby boosting the Philippines' export portfolio.

HHIC-Phil Inc. President Jin Kyu Ah said that the Korean shipbuilder's capacity to produce high-tech ships is largely due to its ability to remain resilient amid the growing challenges facing the global shipbuilding market today.

"We continuously harness and maximize our shipbuilding capability and resources to win our clients' trust and confidence. We believe that these are the vital ingredients in order for us to keep on exporting commercial vessels during these difficult times", Ahn said.

Cutting-edge technology combined with highly trained and skilled manpower of its shipyard workers, Ahn said that Hanjin is "pushing hard to sustain a cost-efficient production system and meet, if not surpass, the clients' expectations and demands".

Mr. Ahn noted, however, that the shipbuilding industry has yet to regain its long lost ground owing to small demand this year for new vessels caused by diminished maritime activities around the world.

"HHIC-Phil Inc. is exerting its best efforts to be competitive and cope with this depressing situation, which has already created cut-throat competition among shipbuilders in the international front. Thus, any form of short or long term support to help uplift our industry from by the public sector is welcome, if only to perpetuate, or push even further, the Philippines' current 4th place ranking in the global shipbuilding arena", Mr. Ahn stressed.

But despite this daunting task of keeping its core business afloat vis-à-vis the present economic reality, the Korean shipbuilder will continue to look after the welfare of the Hanjin shipyard workforce and prevent cutting down of operations, Ahn said.

In line with this providing its workforce with opportunities, HHIC-Phil Inc. broke new ground in its housing project for its nearly 20,000 local workforce as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Korean shipbuilder, in partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund and Fiesta Communities, recently inaugurated a 30-hectare housing project dubbed as "Hanjin Village" with Vice- President of the Philippines Jejomar C. as guest of honor.

Strategically located in Sitio Nagbayto, Brgy. Nagbunga, Zambales, the newest community will initially cater to 2,000 employees and their families, with Hanjin donating the land to the housing project for free.

The project also showcased Pag-IBIG Fund's "Matching Needs" program which translated to a more affordable housing packages for the worker-beneficiaries, highlighting the public-private partnership among Hanjin and the relevant government entities. (Manila Bulletin)

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Hanjin inaugurates employees housing project

CASTILLEJOS, Zambales — South Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) turned over to employee-recipients on Saturday a total of 300 newly-completed housing units, making good on its promise to deliver affordable housing to its workers.

HHIC-Phil president Jin Kyu Ahn said the units form part of Phase 1 of Hanjin Village, a low-cost housing project that the Korean shipbuilder had initiated as early as 2008 when it bought a 33-hectare site from the Castillejos municipal government.

The new units were inaugurated by Ahn and guests of honor Vice President Jejomar Binay, Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Castillejos Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Roberto Garcia.

They were joined in the ceremony by Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary General Cecilia Alba, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe, and real estate developer Fiesta Communities Inc. president Wilfred Tan.

In his message during the inauguration, Binay noted that the project will involve the construction of a total of 2,775 housing units that will be built in two phases: 1,730 units for the first phase and 1,000 units for the second phase. As of now, the developer has constructed about 350 units.

Binay, who chairs both the HUDCC and the Pag-IBIG board, told Hanjin employees that they can avail of the housing units through Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan designed specifically for the HHIC-Phil project.

He added that for this, Pag-IBIG had lowered its interest rate from 4.5% to 4% for employees earning P12,000 or less monthly, who may want to avail of units costing P400,000. For employees who receive monthly salaries of more than P12,000 up to P14,000, interest rates have been lowered from 6.5% to 6% he added.

Binay also noted that Hanjin employees will not be required to pay down-payment or equity, and that Hanjin has already donated the land for the project site.

“This means that the monthly amortization you’ll be paying will only be for the construction of our houses. This translates to huge savings for you,” Binay also said.

On the same occasion, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and SBMA Director Benjamin Antonio conferred with the vice president on the possibility of putting up a similar low-cost housing project for SBMA employees and other workers in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Binay said that initiatives like the Hanjin Village are clear examples of the public-private partnership program being pushed by the government under the leadership of President Aquino.

HHIC’s Ahn had said earlier that the Hanjin Village project is “part of our mission to promote the welfare of workers by providing them with a dream house within their reach.”

He said the housing complex will have all the needed facilities like an elementary school, bus terminals for free-shuttle buses, multipurpose hall, as well as an extension office for the barangay, among others. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) explains to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (middle) and SBMA Director Benjamin Antonio the requirements for a low-cost housing project that the two officials have in mind for SBMA employees and workers in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Hanjin to unveil 30-ha village for its 18,000 shipyard workers

The biggest shipbuilding firm in the country will unveil a village made for its 18,000 shipbuilding employees this Saturday in Sitio Nagbayto, Baranggay Nagbunga in Castillejos, Zambales.

Dubbed as the “Hanjin Village”, the housing community project is situated on a 30-hectare land area in Sitio Nagbayto, some 30 minute drive to Hanjin’s shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula.

The real estate property was provided for free thru the efforts of the Korean shipbuilder in furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of providing quality yet affordable housing units to qualified workers of the shipbuilding subcontractors operating inside the Hanjin Subic shipyard.

The project was made possible through the “Housing Needs Matching Program” pioneered by Pag-IBIG in which the latter matches the needs of employers for their employee housing need with developers capable of providing such housing facilities.

“The cost to employee is reduced by the exclusion of marketing cost due to needs matching, as well as salary deduction arrangement and other commitment of employer to Pag-IBIG – all these towards a sustainable employee-retention program”, according to Pag-IBIG CEO Atty. Darlene Berberabe in an earlier statement released through the media.

The partnership with Pag-IBIG is in line with the direction Vice-President and Pag-IBIG Chairman Jejomar C. Binay had initially set which is characterized by active collaboration with LGUs or employers for the housing needs of their constituents and employees, respectively.

“This day marks the affirmation of our commitment in addressing the housing needs of the Hanjin shipyard workers.”

Due to the cooperation between Hanjin, Office of the Vice-President, Pag-IBIG, and real estate developer Fiesta Communities Inc., shipyard workers will be able to avail of housing units with no down payment or cash outlay, low interest rates by Pag-IBIG, and greatly cheaper prices compared to other housing projects in the market.

This project is a model for future tie-ups between the government and private institutions in the area of housing. Indeed, it is a good example of strong public-private partnership as the parties share common values and priorities,” according to HHIC-Phil President Jin Kyun Ahn. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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Budget allocation eyed for locators’ subsidy

The government will seek budget allocation to continue the subsidy enjoyed by three big projects in Clark and Subic.

Outgoing Trade Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said the government is preparing a program that would effectively continue the industry competitiveness fund (ICF), providing it with a strong legal support like including it in the succeeding general appropriations act (GAA) of the country.

The ICF, which expired in March 2011, was granted to Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. Philippines in Subic Freeport, Texas Instruments Philippines in Clark Freeport Zone and Phoenix Semiconductors Philippines Corp.

Panlilio said the program is very specific to these projects and is not open-ended.

The subsidy was a quid pro quo and as an incentive for these big projects which hired a lot of workers.

One of the companies, Phoenix Semiconductors, is entitled up to 2020.

He said the plan is to allocate it in the GAA.

Panlilio added that government is trying to negotiate a rate acceptable to both parties. The suggested rate has to be approved by the Department of Budget and Management, after which it would have to be approved by President Aquino.

“The reason why we are (extending) that is because we want to ramp up manufacturing,” Panlilio said.

The three were given cheap power under the ICF support under executive orders signed by then President Arroyo.

The government is now looking for other hydropower plants like Bakun and Casecnan to source fuel from on a subsidized rate following the privatization of Angat. These two operate more expensively than Angat per reports from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management and the National Power Corp.

But the government still finds these two power plants as liable for the ICF but the power that they would produce would be more expensive than if the power is sourced from Angat.

This means government would have to shell out more to continue the ICF.

Based on computations, with Angat as the source of power, all-in cost would be below P5 per kilowatt-hour and above P5 for the two other hydropower plants.

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Hanjin Subic Shipyard Delivers 2 Bulk Carriers To UK Company

South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction - Philippines (HHIC-Phil Inc.) welcomed the New Year with yet another milestone when it unveiled simultaneously two newly-built DWT 205,000 Bulk Carriers in its 300-hectare state-of-the-art shipyard facility recently.

The vessels, purchased by England-based Rio Tinto Shipping Limited, were named M/V "RTM Cabot" and M/V "RTM Drake", respectively. The ships, named after two renowned British explorers, will have London in the United Kingdom as their homeport.

The event was attended by HHIC-Phil senior officials led by President Jin Kyu Ahn, Rio Tinto top executives and representatives from classification society Lloyd Register.

Since 2008, HHIC-Phil has successfully delivered to various clients abroad a total of 48 vessels with an estimated value of US$2.9 Billion, thereby boosting the Philippines' export portfolio.

Last year, Hanjin delivered four vessels to Rio Tinto, including "RTM Dampier" and "RTM Zheng He", which was named after a British explorer and a Chinese navigator respectively, the M/V RTM Cartier, named after a French explorer , and the M/V Cook, a 204,000 deadweight metric tons bulk carrier.

The M/V "RTM Cabot" and M/V "RTM Drake are the latest addition to the vessels delivered to shipping magnate Rio Tinto.

But despite these succeses, the shipbuilding industry is already bracing itself for a very challenging year this 2013 as "The world shipbuilding market is really depressed since last year and this has already created cut-throat competition among shipbuilders", according to HHIC-Phil managing director for External Trade Team Taek Kyun Yoo.

Yoo said that " The European-debt crisis and the slowing down of the world economy continue to plague the global shipbuilding industry, which is still reeling the ill effects of a very low shipbuilding demands last year due to fewer maritime activities. Many pundits believe that these economic uncertainties may result to huge drop in sales for new commercial vessels this year, as many international shipping companies still remain conservative on business expansion, and incessantly look for modern and highly cost-efficient vessels to revitalize their fleet just to keep their business afloat amid the looming crisis. "

He said that " due to Hanjin's vast experience and high-technology, the Philippines currently ranked 4th among the largest shipbuilding countries in the world as per the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). The country's unprecedented leap from a virtual unknown nation in building massive ship is also widely credited to Hanjin shipyard's 19,000 highly skilled and in-house trained local workers. (Manila Bulletin)

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