SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is planning to establish a specialized training center at its Subic shipyard to develop local manpower in the shipbuilding industry and secure long-term vessel production.

Industry sources said the South Korean shipbuilder has partnered with the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) to conduct a feasibility study for this project with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The proposed center will train specialized personnel needed on-site in modern shipbuilding, including emerging green and environmentally compliant technologies, with a focus on eco-friendly vessels.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are reportedly participating as local partners.

DOLE announced on September 4 that it is exploring stronger skills development opportunities for Filipino workers in the shipbuilding industry through the proposed training center.

It said Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino has met with representatives from HHI and KOMERI, led by HHI Head Manager and Executive Shin Sang-woon, at the DOLE Central Office in Manila to discuss the proposed project.

The meeting also covered the project feasibility study, implementation direction, and areas needing Philippine cooperation, the DOLE said.

It added that the initiative seeks to equip workers with globally competitive skills, strengthen international partnerships, and expand skills development opportunities in the country.

The September 7 meeting in Seoul between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun, along with senior officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard, further underscored the importance of this training project.

According to a joint statement from the DND and HD Hyundai, “both sides underscored the strategic importance of their partnership, particularly in naval modernization and the revitalization of the Philippine shipbuilding industry.”

In the same meeting, HHI reaffirmed its readiness to expand its footprint in the Philippines, including in Subic Bay, as Teodoro welcomed the interest “in light of the need to establish a forward operating base for the Philippine Navy,” the statement added. – Taktikom News & Features