SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines (HHIP) Inc. launched its first completed vessel at the Agila Subic Shipyard on July 28, 2026, signaling a major milestone for the Korean shipbuilder’s operations in the country. 

The Orion Jade, a massive vessel measuring 250 meters in length, 42 meters in width, and 21 meters in depth, was unveiled during a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both the Philippines and South Korea. 

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño, SBMA senior deputy administrator for business and investment Renato Lee III, and Botolan Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane who represented Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. 

HHIP president Im Dae Jun described the event as a “historic milestone” for the Korean company’s expansion in the Southeast Asian region. 

The completion of the Orion Jade establishes the Subic facility as HD Hyundai’s primary manufacturing base in Southeast Asia, positioning the Philippines as a key player in the global shipbuilding industry. 

Get the latest news


delivered to your inbox

Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters

By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Go, meanwhile, highlighted the significance of the launch. 

“The launch of the Orion Jade is a testament to the Marcos administration’s efforts to attract strategic investments and ensure that these commitments materialize into projects that generate quality jobs, strengthen our industrial capabilities, and create meaningful economic opportunities for Filipinos,” he said.

Aliño, on the other hand, said that the inauguration marks a success for the administration’s investment initiatives as the shipyard features a 550-meter dry dock, the largest in the Philippines, that aims to construct at least 10 ships in 2027. 

Aliño attributed HHIP’s investment in Subic Bay Freeport to the Create More Act, enacted two years ago to attract significant investments into the country. 

Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa noted that the launch of a vessel built in Subic by Filipino workers marks a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations. 

He added that the transformation of the Subic shipyard reflects the strong partnership between the two nations. 

Lee also said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. envisions restoring the Philippines as a leading shipbuilding nation. 

“Korea and the Philippines continue to expand maritime cooperation, enhancing mutual trust and having a shared vision,” he said. 

Employment and Investment HHIP currently sustains approximately 4,000 operational jobs at its Zambales facility. 

The company has revived its full-scale commercial shipbuilding operations under the Marcos Jr. administration, with plans to ramp up its workforce to 7,000 employees as production peaks. 

The company’s human resources division said compensation remains highly competitive and is determined by specific technical qualifications. 

Permanent employees receive a structured package including free on-site board and lodging, complimentary daily shuttle services, free daily lunch meals, comprehensive HMO and health insurance coverage starting on the first anniversary of service. 

The launch of the Orion Jade represents a significant step forward in the Philippines’ ambition to reclaim its status as a premier shipbuilding destination in Asia, backed by strategic investments and international cooperation.