CASTILLEJOS, Zambales – An irked Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. reminded Hanjin officials, “You’re still in the Philippines,” after government officials were restricted to enter into the shipyard for a dialogue.
Hanjin's security officers tried to bar provincial officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Philippine National Police to enter the shipyard.
“If you’re not letting them in, then I won’t get in, too,” the governor said.
Hanjin officials invited Ebdane for an audience regarding various concerns and proposals.
General manager for external trade Taek Kyun Yoo, in behalf of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation-Philippines (HHIC-Phil), had sought the governor’s assistance, among others, in the processing of the firm’s application for land use conversion filed with the DAR and the Department of Agriculture almost a year ago.
HHIC-Philippines needed the conversion permit before it could start construction on a 1,300-unit housing project for Hanjin employees at Barangay Magsaysay in Castillejos, Zambales.
Yoo said while the firm has already complied with all the requirements, including an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the local DENR office, it has yet to be issued a land use conversion permit.
Ebdane, for his part, promised his assistance on the land conversion issue and gave instructions to the DAR representative to speed up the release of the said permit.
Ebdane also told HHIC-Philippines officials to resolve the issue on the shuttle service for Hanjin workers and tend to the garbage filling up the area from the roadside to the shores of Subic Bay.