Pinas sa Washington:  Ikonsidera ang Subic bilang warship manufacturing hub

HINIKAYAT ng Pilipinas ang Estados Unidos na ikunsidera ang bansa bilang potential manufacturer nito ng US warships, habang naghahangad ang Washington, DC na patatagin ang fleet nito sa susunod na 30 taon.

“Subic, obviously the (former) Hanjin Subic Shipyard, is (in) shipbuilding operation and we’re sure it could possibly be part of what the United States is looking at,” ang sinabi ni Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, araw ng Huwebes sa isang panayam sa sidelines ng US – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Council meeting.

Layon aniya ng Estados Unidos na buhayin ang long-stalled shipbuilding industry nito, habang aktibo na ang shipbuilding operations ng Pilipinas.

“(The US) wants to increase their shipbuilding industry. It’s been sort of like on hold for many years, decades, and now they are reviving it. Ours is already operating right now,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Romualdez.

Ang panukala aniya na magtayo ng US Navy ships sa Subic shipyard, tinatawag ngayon na Agila Subic multi-use facility, ay napag-usapan sa nakalipas na pagpupulong kasama ang Pentagon.

Sa nasabing pagpupulong, hinikayat ni Romualdez ang mga US stakeholders na palawigin ang defense industrial partnerships kasama ang Pilipinas habang namumuhunan sa ibang mahahalagang sektor.

“Economic strength is the foundation of strategic strength. When US companies invest here, it’s not just about returns on capital. It’s about returns on alliance,” aniya pa rin sabay sabing ang mas malakas na ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay mas may kakayahan at maaasahang US defense partner.

Maliban sa shipbuilding, pinag-usapan din ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas ang “defense manufacturing plants” sa bansa, kabilang na ang usapin hinggil sa ‘ammunition at drone production.’

Habang dine-develop ng Estados Unidos ang national defense strategy nito, sinabi ni US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson na umaasa ang Washington, DC ng “continued positive upward trajectory” ukol sa ‘defense at security ties’ sa susunod na mga taon.

Sa kabilang dako, tinipon ng US-ASEAN Business Council ang 35 US companies sa Pilipinas mula Aug. 11 hanggang 14, itinuturing na pinakamalaking ‘business mission’ sa bansa.

Dinala din nito ang Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) Mission sa Pilipinas, kasama ang 26 leading US companies sa larangan ng defense and security sectors para makilahok.

“With close to 60 companies joining this historic back-to-back business missions, the US private sector demonstrates its steady, deep, and enduring commitment to the Philippines as a key partner in the region,” ang sinabi ni US-ASEAN Business Council Senior Vice

President and Regional Managing Director Ted Osius.

“The US-Philippines relationship is a unique one, and our delegation reflects our collective commitment to supporting the Philippines’ long-term economic growth, innovation, and regional competitiveness,” aniya pa rin.

(Daris Jose)