Tsuneishi touts Cebu shipbuilding facility expansion during Marcos Japan visit

Japanese maritime giant Tsuneishi Group Corporation presented the expansion and modernization of its shipbuilding facilities in Balamban, Cebu on the sidelines of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s state visit, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Friday.

In a news release, the DTI said Tsuneishi’s expansion plan was discussed during a May 28, 2026 meeting between Marcos, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and Tsuneishi Group Chairman of the Board and Group CEO Hitoshi Kono.

Tsuneishi’s shipbuilding facility expansion was part of the P56.3-billion investment haul during Marcos’ four-day state visit to Japan.

In particular, the expansion plan includes the construction of a dry dock, production buildings, and related infrastructure to improve future shipyard development and production capacity.

The Japanese maritime giant’s investment is seen to make the country the fourth-largest shipbuilding nation in the world next to China, Japan, and South Korea.

“Tsuneishi’s operations in Cebu have helped transform Balamban into one of the country’s leading shipbuilding and industrial hubs, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for Filipino workers and local communities. We value the company not only as a major investor, but also as a long-term partner in strengthening the Philippines’ maritime manufacturing ecosystem and advancing environmentally sustainable shipbuilding technologies,” said Roque.

Tsuneishi Group has operated in the Philippines since the early 1990s through Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc. (THI), which now operates one of the country’s largest shipbuilding facilities in Balamban, Cebu and supports more than 12,000 jobs.

In addition, the company’s long-standing presence has contributed to the Philippines’ growing shipbuilding industry, which recorded approximately $541 million in exports in 2024, with Japan accounting for more than 96% of export demand, according to the DTI.

Aside from the shipbuilding expansion, the Trade Department said the meeting also discussed areas for deeper Philippines-Japan cooperation in workforce development and human resource exchange with Tsuneishi reaffirming its support for Filipino talent development and initiatives that create more overseas employment opportunities for Filipino workers. — BAP, GMA News