Palace: Korean firm willing to back PH Navy's submarine program

GYEONGJU, South Korea - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Saturday met with shipbuilding giant Hanwha Ocean to tackle plans for the Philippine Navy's submarine program.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Hanwha Ocean will support the construction of a submarine base and the establishment of a local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center, as well as the training of Filipino naval operators, maintainers, and commanders using advanced simulators and systems.

Officials from Hanwha Ocean informed the President of their plans for the deployment of KSS-III PN submarines equipped with modern sonar and combat systems and lithium-ion batteries for longer underwater endurance, along with technology transfer and partnerships with local industries to advance the Philippines’ self-reliant defense capability.

The meeting took place as Marcos advanced the Philippines’ strategic economic and defense priorities on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju. 

Meanwhile, Marcos also met with executives from the DL Group. The conglomerate's subsidiary, DL E&C, is partnering with Meralco to pursue small modular reactor (SMR) projects in the Philippines.

SMRs are compact nuclear plants that can safely produce clean, stable energy using less land and shorter construction periods than traditional facilities.

Marcos also witnessed the signing of a Supplemental Agreement between the DTI’s Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corporation (SEMPHIL) during a top-level meeting with South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO).

SEMCO executives discussed the P50.7 billion expansion of its manufacturing operations in Calamba, Laguna, which will generate more than 3,000 new high-technology jobs for Filipino engineers and technicians and strengthen the Philippines’ role in the global electronics and EV supply chain.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News