A TRAINING center for eco-friendly shipbuilding specialists is being proposed in Zambales as the Philippines and South Korea seek to develop workers with skills needed by the changing shipbuilding industry.
Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will fast-track the mechanisms for the proposed facility with South Korean shipbuilding and marine-equipment institutions.
Tolentino met with representatives from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) and Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (Komeri), led by HHI Head Manager and Executive Shin Sang-woon on Friday.
‘We understand the urgency of this because Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] will convene in November this year,’ Tolentino said.
‘Rest assured that on our end, including Tesda, we will be working double time to fast-track the mechanics and details of the agreement,’ he added.
The proposed center will focus on specialized training for eco-friendly shipbuilding, giving Filipino workers skills aligned with emerging requirements in the maritime industry.
Tolentino said the country already has a strong pool of workers whose capabilities can be further developed through the partnership.
‘This would be of great help to the Philippine shipbuilding industry,’ Tolentino said.
Dole will serve as the Philippine government’s primary focal point for the proposed Official Development Assistance project, while Tesda will be a key government counterpart for workforce training.
HHI and Komeri are conducting the feasibility study for the project under the management of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (Kiat) and the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (Motir).
The feasibility study is scheduled for the second half of 2026, meaning the proposed facility remains at the preparatory stage.
Meanwhile, the project is expected to provide specialized training that responds to the manpower requirements of the shipbuilding industry, particularly as demand shifts toward cleaner technologies.
Developing these skills could also give Filipino workers greater access to skilled employment in the domestic and international shipbuilding markets.
The proposed center forms part of broader Philippine-South Korean cooperation on skills and human-resource development through technical expertise and training.
Dole said the partnership would help align workforce development with industry requirements while expanding opportunities for quality employment in the shipbuilding sector.