The former Hanjin shipbuilding facility at the Subic Bay Freeport. (Contributed photo)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT––The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is preparing skills training for residents of nearby localities to augment the workforce expected to be employed by the US company that will formally take over the former Hanjin shipyard in this freeport.
SBMA Chair and Administrator Rolen Paulino said the takeover of the operations of the massive shipyard by the US investment firm Cerberus Management Capital and Agila Naval Inc. had been finalized.
“That is why we will be coordinating with TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) for the skills training, which may be needed when Cerberus starts operation anytime soon,” Paulino said in a statement Wednesday, May 4.
The shipyard use to be operated by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, which closed down due to financial troubles before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
More than 3,000 workers lost jobs due to the shipyard’s closure.
Last month, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III disclosed that Cerberus was expected to create 300 new jobs every year once it operated the shipyard.