Will Marcos’ shipbuilding push deliver lasting capacity for Philippines?
The expansion of the West Cebu Industrial Park aims to strengthen the Philippines’ defence and economy, and cement dominance in shipbuilding
The proclamation brought the special economic zone in Balamban, on Cebu’s western coast, to more than 600 hectares. This was Marcos’ third expansion of the industrial estate; a separate order last year covered seven parcels of land in the same municipality.
The expansion came shortly after Marcos’ state visit to Japan, where he met officials from Tsuneishi Group Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate with interests in shipbuilding, shipping, energy and other related industries.
Their discussions focused on Tsuneishi’s ongoing and planned investments in shipbuilding expansion, green maritime technologies and advanced maritime manufacturing in the Philippines.
Those plans include expanding Tsuneishi’s shipyard facilities at the WCIP and continuing the development of environmentally friendly next-generation vessels.
