The President welcomed the new Korean investment that is expected to generate some 30,000 new jobs when Hanjin president Jeong Sup Shim paid a courtesy call on her this afternoon in Malacanang.
Also present were Phividec Industrial Authority administrator Ninfa Albania and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General Cerge Remonde.
The President earlier visited Isla Puting Bato in Tondo where she said that Hanjin's new investment would generate thousands of jobs, especially for welders.
Remonde said that in terms of investment, Hanjin's Mndanao plant would be two times bigger than the shipbuilding complex the company is building in Subic, Zambales.
Albania said Hanjin's latest facility is being established at the 3,000-hectare Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan and Villanueva towns in Misamis Oriental.
Jeong said construction of the general manufacturing plant of the shipbuilding facility would start early next year.
Under Phase 2, Jeong said the plant would start fabricating ships in 2010, and by 2012 the facility is expected to export some $1.7 billion worth of shipbuilding parts and vessels.
Jeong said Hanjin's Mindanao plant would employ about 30,000 Filipinos, particularly engineers, welders, and steel fabricators.
He recalled that Hanjin launched its first investment in the country in Mindanao with the construction of the Iligan-Butuan Road in 1973.