Takeover of Hanjin: Duterte ‘very receptive’ | Inquirer Business

Takeover of Hanjin: Duterte ‘very receptive’

/ 05:10 AM January 17, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is “very receptive” to the idea of taking over the facilities of the bankrupt Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines so that the Philippine Navy could boost its shipbuilding capacity, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Lorenzana told senators on Wednesday that the government could team up with a private entity to manage the shipyard.

Hanjin, the local shipbuilding unit of a Korean conglomerate, declared bankruptcy this month.

Article continues after this advertisement

Its local debts amount to more than $400 million.

FEATURED STORIES

“While we sympathize with the financial woes of Hanjn, we are excited by this development because we see the possibility of having our own shipbuilding capacity in the Philippines, especially large ships like what’s being built in the Hanjin shipyard in Subic,” Lorenzana said.

20 ships

Article continues after this advertisement

The Navy needed 20 more ships in the next five years, he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad had broached the idea, which Lorenzana said he relayed to the President.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This is really very perfect for us,” Lorenzana said.

“We are actually ordering ships from abroad. If we take this over, we can build our own ships here,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Philippine Coast Guard also needed a lot of ships, he noted.

He said the government could be a minority owner in Hanjin, while its private partner could be the majority owner.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was also thinking of how local banks could recoup its investments in Hanjin, which amounted to $430 million, Lorenzana added.

Senators’ backing

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Panfilo Lacson supported the idea.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Lacson said the government could use deleted budget insertions.

TAGS: Delfin Lorenzana, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines, Philippine Navy, Rodrigo Duterte

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.