Governor Amor Deloso (second from right) receives the first truckload of construction materials donated by the Subic Bay Freeport-based shipbuilder Hanjin. The donation, which was turned over by HHIC-Phil external trade manager Taek Kyun Yoo (second from left), is expected to benefit some 2,000 families affected by floods spawned by typhoon Kiko last month.

IBA, Zambales—Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) donated half a million worth of building and construction materials to the municipality of Botolan, Zambales, which was hit by massive flooding during the recent typhoon.

The materials are expected to help flood victims rebuild their homes, said officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), who facilitated the turnover of the donations from Hanjin to the Zambales provincial government at the provincial capitol here.

Governor Amor Deloso, who had earlier asked for assistance on behalf of more than 2,000 families left homeless by the floods, received the first truckload of materials delivered by Hanjin.

The materials will include about 1,100 bags of cement, 800 corrugated G.I. sheets, and 10,500 pieces of concrete hollow blocks, said Taek Kyun Yoo, HHIC-Phil’s general manager for external trade, who supervised the turnover.

Yoo said that in the last couple of weeks, his company has also donated canned goods and other relief items to typhoon victims in Botolan.

However, “we deem that the canned and dry goods we earlier sent to Botolan are not enough because we also see the urgent need for the repair of houses destroyed by the typhoon. So the company decided to donate these construction and building materials,” Yoo added.

HHIC-Phil, which operates the $1.6-billion shipbuilding facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, has been enjoying continued growth despite the global economic crisis, Yoo also said during his meeting with Deloso.

The firm, which now builds some of the biggest ships in the word today, currently employs more than 18,000 workers, most of whom are from Zambales and other nearby communities, added Yoo.

“We are hoping that less typhoons will visit in the coming months, so that there will be no more damages to lives and property here,” he also said.

Aside from Hanjin, another Korean firm based in the Subic Bay Freeport had extended assistance to Botolan flood victims.

Neorex Philkor, which is into development of resort and entertainment facilities in Subic Freeport, delivered 800 bags of relief goods worth P200,000.

Neorex president Henry Park personally led the distribution of relief goods to evacuees housed at the Porac Elemenrary School and Bucao Elementary School, which still serve as evacuation centers for some 200 families in Botolan.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, meanwhile, has commended both HHIC-Phil and Neorex Philkor “for taking the initiative of being a good neighbor to local communities, especially in times of need.”

“These are gestures that not only build goodwill between neighbors,” Arreza remarked. “These initiatives, in fact, help save lives and bring hope to people who find themselves in desperate situations.”

“We hope that more business locators in Subic would find the time and the wherewithal to extend their help,” Arreza added.

Members of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, (from left) Reps. Magtanggol Guinigundo, Mitos Magsaysay and Rafael Mariano, arrive at the Hanjin shipyard in the Subic Bay Free Port to inspect the firm’s compliance with labor safety standards.

Headed by its chairman Rep. Magtanggol Guinigundo (2nd District of Bulacan), the committee made an inspection of the shipbuilding facility owned and operated by Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. (HHIC) in Subic’s Redondo Peninsula.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials, who accompanied the House delegation, said the lawmakers wanted to see for themselves how workers fared at the Hanjin facility.

“The ocular visit is in connection with the ongoing committee hearing to determine how safe the facility is, and to evaluate the working conditions of the workers in the Hanjin shipyard,” Guinigundo said during the inspection.

Other committee members who joined the Hanjin inspection were Reps. Carlos Padilla (Nueva Vizcaya), Joel Maglunsod (Anak Pawis), Mitos Magsaysay (1st District of Zambales), Rafael Mariano (Anak Pawis), Walden Bello (Akbayan), Edno Joson (Balane-Kampi), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District of Cagayan de Oro) and Monico Puentavella (Bacolod).

The lawmakers were accompanied by Director Nathaniel Lacambra of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region III, Director Brenda Villafuerte of the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions, and SBMA officials, headed by senior deputy administrator Ramon Agregado.

The delegation was welcomed by HHIC general manager Taek Kyun Yoo, who briefed the visitors on Hanjin operations prior to the inspection tour.

According to SBMA records, a total of 19 fatal accidents have occurred in the shipyard since it started operations in 2006. The incidents had led SBMA and other government agencies to suspend Hanjin operations, as well as to blacklist some subcontractors, pending a review of safety measures at the shipyard.

During the briefing, Yoo told the congressmen that HHIC has been implementing health and safety measures that the House committee has recommended during previous hearings.

“We are happy to report to you that Hanjin Philippines is now 99.9-percent compliant in securing accreditation for all its health and safety personnel, and works toward the improvement of the working conditions of our workers,” he said.

Yoo also reported that the emergency clinic in the shipyard complex has been expanded to accommodate 20 beds and modern equipment, and now has four medical doctors.

The clinic is supported by an ambulance and three units of fast sea ambulances, he added.

Yoo likewise reported that the HHIC Board has approved an annual budget of P311,356,292 for the improvement of work conditions in the facility. This will also cover the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) such gloves, shoes, overall work suits, goggles and helmets, which are given free to workers, he added.

Bello noted, however, that despite the improvements in Hanjin’s labor safety, the implementation is still in the early stages.

“We are happy to hear and see the big improvement in the implementation of safety measures, but because they have just started doing this, there are lots more to do,” Bello added.

Magsaysay insisted, meanwhile, that despite the additional medical equipment and personnel, Hanjin should build its own hospital in the area so that full medical services would be available to the workers.

She added that doctors and nurses should be on duty at the facility on a 24-hour basis.