Skills Development Center

Hanjin Heavy Opens Training Centre for Shipyard Workers at Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. (HHIC, KSE:003480) opened over the weekend the most modern training centre in the Philippines built at a cost of P40 million (US$755,287).

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza said the training centre is located at the heart of the municipality of Subic, Zambales.

"This training centre is just one among the many good things that are happening in the Subic Freeport for the past six months and Hanjin will be the biggest shipyard in the country with a committed investment of more than US$1 billion," he said.

Arreza assured the officials of HHIC-Philippines that the company could expect full support from SBMA for the project.

Myung Goo Kwon, HHIC-Philippines Managing Director, expressed his gratitude for the support and attention extended by Subic municipal mayor Jeffrey Khonghun for hosting the construction of the HHIC-Philippines Shipyard Facility Project in the municipality's coastal area in the Redondo Peninsula, and allowing the use of the multi-purpose building to be converted into a temporary training centre.

Kwon stressed that one factor for the success of the shipbuilding industry in the international market is the pool of qualified and competent manpower.

"Equipped with the most modern training facilities and qualified Korean instructors, the training centre will be the cornerstone in developing and honing the skills of the Filipino trainees. It will transform regular, ordinary workers into qualified, skilled workers eligible to work in our shipyard," he said.

The training facility, which was constructed through collaborated efforts of HHIC-Philippines, SBMA, the province of Zambales and the municipality of Subic, has three classrooms, 70 welding booths, one pipefitting room, four painting rooms and a large working area that can accommodate a maximum of 200 trainees and instructors.

It is also equipped with 80 CO2 welding machines, two TIG welding machines, two gouging machines, 40 automatic cutting machines, 80 manual cutting machines, one hydraulic shearing machine, a compressor, fork lift, 13 airless pumps, 60 air grinders and several other contemporary machinery Around 100 trainees, mostly from Zambales, Olongapo City and Bataan will be taught the necessary skills to qualify them for shipbuilding jobs for three months.

"After the training, the trainees will become the best assets of Hanjin and they will build the most beautiful ships in the world," said Shim.

The shipyard is part of the 10-point economic agenda of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which will not only provide job opportunities for people living around the shipyard, but will also realize the advancement of the local shipbuilding industry.

"The project is expected to generate more than 30,000 direct and indirect job opportunities and would put the Philippines in the map of shipbuilding industry," he said. (PNA)