SBMA breaks ground for access road for Hanjin

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The new access road that will connect the $1-billion shipbuilding facility of Korea’s Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) in Subic to other areas in Zambales province is all set for construction.

Groundbreaking rites for the P600-million Balaybay-Subic-Cawag access road were recently held here with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator and CEO Armand C. Arreza, Zambales governor Vicente Magsaysay, HHIC director Jeong Sup Shim and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region III-director Ramon Aquino in attendance.

The new road will make the 230-hectare Hanjin shipbuilding site in Agusuhin accessible through Zambales, allowing a two-way access point to Agusuhin which until now is only available by boat.

"This road project is one of the two committed projects from the government that will help provide easy access for manpower and construction materials for the new Hanjin plant," Arreza told The STAR.

The $1-billion Hanjin investment will be spread over a period of eight years and will generate some 30,000 direct and indirect employment.

Arreza further bared that the new road is not only envisioned to connect Hanjin with Zambales but will also be a progressive road that will connect the proposed Zambales Industrial Park and provincial port.

He also committed their full support for the project’s completion. "The SBMA stands fully committed for the success of this project."

He explained also that the Hanjin project will form part of the SBMA’s contributions to the realization of President Arroyo’s 10-point economic agenda.

Meanwhile, Jeong lauded the government for their commitment to provide a major access road for Hanjin. "This is an essential road that will be a major pipeline for Hanjin’s manpower and materials. This is a bold step in helping make the Hanjin facility a success," he told The STAR.

The Balaybay-Subic-Cawag road construction will be completed by the end of the year. The HHIC facility, dubbed as one of the world’s biggest, is located along Redondo Peninsula inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

The area has been deemed highly suitable for building of liquefied natural gas carriers, large crude-oil carriers and offshore drilling rigs.