đź“· thepinoyofw.com
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged the shipbuilding firms to help Filipinos upskill and reskill in shipbuilding to catch up with the industry’s demand.
Marcos made the call as he welcomed the partnership of HD Hyundai, a South Korean shipbuilder, and Cerberus, a global alternative investment firm with assets across credit, in Subic.
During the courtesy call in Malacañang, Marcos said their latest investment plans would “bring maritime manufacturing back to Subic and eventually restore the glory days of shipbuilding to our shores.”
Hence, Marcos told HD Hyundai to partner with several agencies in the Philippines to help develop the Filipino workforce for the new technologies required.
“We encourage HD Hyundai to partner with our Commission on Higher Education and Technical Skills Education Development Authority (TESDA) in finding projects for the development of our very talented workforce,” Marcos said in his speech.
“They will not only bring their skills to your company, but the brand of dedication, compassion, and hard work that has become the trademark of the Filipino worker,” Marcos added.
Marcos commended HD Hyundai’s initial focus on offshore wind platforms, aligning with the country’s goal of transitioning to renewable energy.
He also expressed aspirations to usher in a new era of shipbuilding in the Philippines, leveraging the country’s pool of skilled seafarers.
The President acknowledged the decline in the Philippines’ shipbuilding output compared to the past and to regional leaders like South Korea and Japan. He believes Cerberus and HD Hyundai’s initiative will provide a fresh start to become a major shipbuilding force globally.
“With this initiative of Cerberus and HD Hyundai, we will have a fresh start and a strong foundation in realizing our vision to be amongst the largest and most consequential shipbuilders in the world,” Marcos said.
“We have established our position as the largest source of competent and able seafarers in the world. The next logical step for us is to ensure that the ships run by Filipinos can also be made by Filipinos,” Marcos added.
In 2022, the Philippines was the seventh-largest shipbuilder in the world, contributing almost 400,000 gross tons of newly built sea and ocean-going vessels. (TCSP)
