Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration of the HD Hyundai Shipyard in the Philippines

Thank you Secretary Vince Dizon for your kind introduction. [Please take your seats.]

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines His Excellency Lee Sang-hwa; United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines Her Excellency MaryKay Carlson; HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Ind. CEO Mr. Kim Sung-joon; and of course, the executives and employees of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines led by their President Mr. Oh Sekwang; my fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning.

I am glad to be here in Subic where, together with our partners, we are reviving the shipbuilding in the country to strengthen industries, promote livelihood, and build a better, stronger future for the Philippines.

For decades, even centuries, the Philippines has given the world our finest seafarers. It is only fitting that we also supply the world with excellent vessels to sail on.

From 2014 to 2018, our shipyards were producing 1.2 to 2 million gross tons of ships—roughly around 20 oil tankers or 30 large container ships—annually. However, starting in 2019, our output fell, we lost our momentum.

Today, we raise the sails once more.

With Hyundai Heavy Industries investing in Subic, our shipyard capacity will significantly increase from 1.3 million to 2.5 million deadweight tons, from handling four to five massive oil tankers to about now eight of those ships.

But more than size, now the ships that we built – this means that we can accommodate vessels with higher volumes, boost our export potential, and create more jobs for our Filipino workers.

By 2030, we look forward to this yard employing 4,300 Filipinos. That equates to thousands of families with food on the table, thousands of workers with dignity in their craft, thousands of Filipinos who see shipbuilding as a source of livelihood.

As President, I take great pride in Filipino hands navigating the world’s oceans. Thirty percent of the world’s seafarers are Filipinos. These are diligent men and women whose skill and dedication keep the seafaring industry moving every single day.

And to make this partnership succeed, we are working to match Hyundai’s investment with a skilled workforce worthy of their trust.

Last November 2024, TESDA signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Hyundai to establish an off-campus training facility here in Subic.

Through this partnership, 24 trainees have completed the Flux-Cored Arc Welding NC I program and are now part of Hyundai’s workforce.

To train even more Filipinos, TESDA has awarded 25 more scholarship slots for Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I and 100 slots for enterprise-based training in Flux-Cored Arc Welding NC I. This ensures a steady influx of skilled workers ready for the needs of this industry.

We now have 16 training programs covering every discipline—from marine electricity to gas or arc welding—so that the skills forged here meet the standards of any shipyard around the world.

All these efforts show our commitment to reviving the industry to ensure that it will thrive in the generations to come.

Ladies and gentlemen, today, we will begin reclaiming our rightful place among the world’s great shipbuilding nations.

I am excited to see where this endeavor will take us.

Together, let us show the world that Filipinos have the skills, the vision to navigate the uncertain waters of an ever-changing world.

Good luck to you all and thank you to Hyundai.

Congratulations!

Thank you very much!

Mabuhay ang industriya ng shipbuilding. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat! [applause]

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