San Miguel Corp. on Friday acknowledged its Korean partners as critical to its success in completing major Philippine infrastructure projects.
“Our Korean partners play a crucial role in advancing San Miguel’s major infrastructure projects that help fuel our country’s economic growth, including in sectors like infrastructure, power, and water utilities,” Ramon S. Ang, SMC president and chief executive, said.
“We look forward to sustaining and expanding this partnership as we pursue more nation-building initiatives,” he added.
South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa recently visited the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project in Quezon City won by SMC.
The MRT-7 team toured Lee around its depot in Greater Lagro, Quezon City where the ambassador saw first-hand how SMC is using Korean technology in implementing the game-changing mass rail project.
“Ambassador Lee’s visit to our MRT-7 facilities highlights our partnership with Korean engineers and technology. This project, once operational, will serve as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the Philippines and South Korea,” Ang said.
SMC works with Korean national railway operator, Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), while another Korean firm, the Hyundai Rotem, supplies the train sets for the 22.8-kilometer railway project connecting Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Korail runs various train lines in South Korea that crisscross the different regions and cities, as well as the metropolitan areas and commuter services.
With capacity to serve up to 850,000 passengers daily when fully operational, the project is highly anticipated for its role in improving urban transit and decongesting Metro Manila.
SMC has also teamed up with Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) for the operation and maintenance of the 218-MW Angat Hydroelectric Power Plant in Angat, Bulacan, and for the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project that provides potable water to Bulacan’s water districts, at the lowest rates.
For the NAIA modernization project, which SMC won via public bidding recently, Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) will serve as technical partner to help pursue the P170.6 billion project through public-private partnership. IIAC operates the Incheon International Airport which had been recognized as among the top airports in the world.
Ambassador Lee said: “I am very glad that San Miguel, an esteemed company here in the Philippines, has reliable and strong partnerships with Korean engineers. The construction of the MRT-7, for one, will significantly contribute to enhancing the mobility of Filipinos here in Quezon City and Bulacan.”
Lee also inspected the depot’s training center where MRT-7 operators and traffic controllers practice using a train simulator bought by SMC from Seoul. In July last year, SMC also sent 40 of its cadet engineers to train under the supervision of Korail.
After a walk-around at the depot, Lee proceeded to MRT-7 Station 4 in Tandang Sora for a visit and inspect the train set there.
“It is very much more than what I expected. As you look at this train, it is very modern and state-of-the-art, almost identical to the ones we use in Korea. I am very proud of Korea’s humble contribution to this project through Hyundai Rotem,” he said.
