Gov't looking for investors to operate Hanjin shipyard
Published Jun 11, 2019 07:33 pm
By Philippine News Agency
Should the government acquire control of cash-strapped Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC-Phil), the next option is to get interested parties or shipbuilders to operate its shipyard in Subic Bay, Zambales.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was emphasized by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana when asked about updates on the government’s plans on the South Korean shipbuilder Monday.
He said foreign or local investors have yet to make formal offers or bids regarding the HHIC-Phil's shipbuilding operations.
"We are still yet to see any formal offer, so (the) Hanjin (matter) is now being handled by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) as they are talking with local banks where the company has outstanding loans. DOF is looking on how to pay these banks so that we can get Hanjin and then after we take over Hanjin, then we can now select who among (the) interested parties (are) best suited to our purpose and run it as a shipyard to make money," Lorenzana added.
In the meantime, the DND chief said the government could use Hanjin's facilities to house and repair large Philippine Navy ships.
But Lorenzana said prospective investors for the Hanjin facility should really come from the shipbuilding sector as it will take a lot of money and foreign contacts to get orders abroad to make its operations profitable.
HHIC-Phil earlier revealed it has a total of US$1.3 billion outstanding loans -- USD400 million from Philippine banks and US$900 million from South Korean lenders.
According to SBMA, HHIC-Phil filed on January 8 a petition before the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City "to initiate voluntary rehabilitation under Republic Act 10142, otherwise known as An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and Individuals."
With this, the shipbuilder has sought help from the government to find investors that can take over the operation of its shipyard in Subic and help its employees, who have taken the brunt of the company's financial woes.
In December 2018, the company laid off more than 7,000 workers.
"Hanjin shipyard (has) not actually filed for bankruptcy, it is just asking for rehabilitation, because the problem is cash flow, it is still building some ships here in the Philippines but it needs money to keep operating (on a) day-to-day basis so it’s still being in the works, however (the) Senate has already set aside some money for the eventuality," the DND chief earlier said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was emphasized by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana when asked about updates on the government’s plans on the South Korean shipbuilder Monday.
He said foreign or local investors have yet to make formal offers or bids regarding the HHIC-Phil's shipbuilding operations.
"We are still yet to see any formal offer, so (the) Hanjin (matter) is now being handled by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) as they are talking with local banks where the company has outstanding loans. DOF is looking on how to pay these banks so that we can get Hanjin and then after we take over Hanjin, then we can now select who among (the) interested parties (are) best suited to our purpose and run it as a shipyard to make money," Lorenzana added.
In the meantime, the DND chief said the government could use Hanjin's facilities to house and repair large Philippine Navy ships.
But Lorenzana said prospective investors for the Hanjin facility should really come from the shipbuilding sector as it will take a lot of money and foreign contacts to get orders abroad to make its operations profitable.
HHIC-Phil earlier revealed it has a total of US$1.3 billion outstanding loans -- USD400 million from Philippine banks and US$900 million from South Korean lenders.
According to SBMA, HHIC-Phil filed on January 8 a petition before the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City "to initiate voluntary rehabilitation under Republic Act 10142, otherwise known as An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and Individuals."
With this, the shipbuilder has sought help from the government to find investors that can take over the operation of its shipyard in Subic and help its employees, who have taken the brunt of the company's financial woes.
In December 2018, the company laid off more than 7,000 workers.
"Hanjin shipyard (has) not actually filed for bankruptcy, it is just asking for rehabilitation, because the problem is cash flow, it is still building some ships here in the Philippines but it needs money to keep operating (on a) day-to-day basis so it’s still being in the works, however (the) Senate has already set aside some money for the eventuality," the DND chief earlier said.