Malacañang is inclined to study the proposed government takeover of the shipbuilding operations of debt-ridden Hanjin in the country.
After Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana proposed the government could take control of the Hanjin shipyard at the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo recognized that the shipbuilding operations could potentially generate additional revenues for the government.
“When I asked Secretary Lorenzana, parang sinabi lang ni Presidente, ‘Tingnan natin. Sa madaling sabihin, it is just a proposal,” Panelo said.
“‘Yung kanyang sagot ay ‘tingnan natin. Ibig sabihin siguro na pag-aaralan… Let’s see how it evolves,” he said.
Asked if Lorenzana’s proposal was a good idea, Panelo said he was personally amenable to letting the government to run the shipyard operations to generate income for the government.
“Maganda siguro kung tayo magpapatakbo nun sa akin personally,” he said. “Kung kaya natin patakbuhin, bakit naman hindi. ‘Di ba income ‘yun? I understand is No. 4 in the world ranking in shipbuilding. Eh di magandang kita ‘yun,” he said.
Lorenzana told the Senate the other day that he raised to the President the proposed government takeover of Hanjin so it could build its own ships than purchase abroad. He claimed that Duterte was receptive to the idea.
Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines recently filed for rehabilitation amid ballooning debts from Philippine and Korean lenders. Some foreign entities are reportedly interested in taking over the local operations of Hanjin. (Genalyn Kabiling)
