Gloria Macapagal Arroyo News

Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is encouraging shipping companies to deploy ships to missionary routes to enhance the connectivity of the country’s islands.Marina opened new roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) missionary routes for application by shipping operators, in line with its initiative to modernize domestic shipping in support of the development of a national nautical highway system in the Philippines.“The Marina declared 19 missionary routes on 31 January 2019 to further connect various islands between the Central Nautical Highway to the Eastern Nautical Highway or from the Western Nautical Highway to the Central Nautical Highway.

K Line established K Line Maritime Academy (Philippines) at Pasay City in The Philippines, and Opening Ceremony was held on February 22, 2008 at the Academy with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and many delegations from The Philippine Government, Seafarers Educational Institution and other related interests in attendance. The Academy is the key facility of KLMA and each training course will be carried out in accordance K Line's fundamental philosophy that fosters the development of K Line Seafarers regardless of nationality by using KLMA Basic Training Matrix and Syllabus. As for navigation officers, the Academy will conduct training for prevention of ship collision and grounding in congested waters and narrow straits, using the new ship handling simulator.

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. will invest $2b in a new shipyard complex in Mindanao, its second in the Philippines after putting up a similar facility in Subic last year. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with Hanjin president Jeong Sup Shim at the Palace yesterday where she was informed of the latest investment in Misamis Oriental. The money committed by Hanjin in Mindanao surpasses its capital inflow in Subic last year, which made Korea the single-biggest source of foreign direct investment in 2006. Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde said the Mindanao shipyard would be two times bigger than the complex of Hanjin in Subic. The new facility will be constructed at the Phividec Industrial Estate in the towns of Tagoloan and Villanueva.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and the Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) welcomed around 950 students and guests to the grand opening of the new NYK-TDG Maritime Academy in Canlubang, Philippines. NYK and its business partner TDG decided to establish this maritime college, which will educate and train future crew members during their school years so that they will not only be able to handle issues involving management but will also gain practical knowledge that is required on board vessels. Those attending the event included Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, president of the Philippines; Philippine government officials; Koichiro Yamazaki, Japanese ambassador to the Philippines; and parents and family members of the 120 excited new students.

Cebu's shipbuilding industry has attracted two Singaporean firms which are planning to invest about $400 million in the fast-growing industry, a Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) official said. Marina Administrator Vicente Suazo said he will facilitate the meetings between the Singaporean investors and the National Maritime Leasing Corp. (NMLC) and the Philippine Import-Export Credit Agency (Philexim). Suazo declined to name the two Singaporean firms, but said one firm, will invest $300m and the other $100m. He said he recently went to Singapore to conduct a campaign to attract foreign investments in the country's shipping industry.

According to reports, a modern domestic shipbuilding facility will soon rise in this premier Freeport zone. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Feliciano Salonga, in a meeting with National Maritime Leasing Corp. president Agustin Bengzon, said the facility would create a synergy aimed at supplying the needs of the domestic shipping industry. Salonga said the partnership and mutual cooperation of SBMA and National Maritime Leasing, a subsidiary of National Development Co., would focus on the acquisition of affordable but more efficient cargo and passenger ships by local shipping operators. Shipbuilding has been included in the government’s Investment Priority Plan.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inspected the ongoing construction in Subic Bay, Zambales of the biggest shipbuilding facility in Asia. The President arrived at and inspected the construction works at the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company (HHIC) shipyard located in Agusuhin, Redondo Peninsula, about 45 minutes by ferry from the Subic Bay Freeport. Among those who welcomed the President were HHIC chairman Cho Nam Ho, HHIC president Lee kang Rok, HHIC-Philippines president Jeong Sup Shim, Zambales Governor Vic Magsaysay, Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, and Korean Ambassador Jong Ki Hong.

The team of Japanese experts who flew into the country to help assess the the damage caused by the sinking of the M/T Solar 1 and the resulting oil spill said oil continues to leak out from the tanker, a statement from the Japanese embassy said Tuesday. In Guimaras, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to conduct a full-blown inquiry into the August 11 sinking, which has led to widespread ecological damage and driven away tourists from the resorts of the island province. After a week of operations, the four-man Japan Disaster Relief Team recommended the continued and periodic aerial survey of the affected area to monitor any sudden changes in the amount of oil coming out of the tanker.