Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc. will register its expansion project as manufacturer of methanol-fueled vessels at its shipbuilding facility in the West Cebu Industrial Park (WCIP) in Balamban, Cebu, according to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso O. Panga.
Panga said following President Marcos Jr.’s designation and proclamation of additional seven parcels of land with total area of 69,490 square meters in Barangay Arpili (two parcels) and in Barangay Buanoy (5 parcels) to expand the current 549 hectare WCIP-special economic zone (SEZ). WCIP is operated by Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc.—a joint venture between the Aboitiz Group and Japan’s Tsuneishi Group, Asia’s leading shipbuilders.
Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1105 on December 4, 2025, adding the 7 parcels of privately-owned land, to the existing WCIP-SEZ.
With this development, Panga said Tsuneishi will proceed with the Registration Agreement with PEZA for its expansion project as manufacturer methanol-powered vessels.
Panga explained that Tsuneishi’s expansion had been delayed as the developer still needed to apply for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and reclamation permit from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
“This long overdue expansion of WCIP will pave the way for more expansion projects of Aboitiz Land, the zone developer, and its biggest locator Tsuneishi, one of the leading medium sized shipbuilders in the world, as well as pave for the entry of new investors from the ship building industry,” he said.
In July this year, Tsuneishi launched the world’s first methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier from their WCIP facility. The launch signaled the role of WCIP in driving clean maritime innovation in the Philippines and solidifying its 30-year legacy as the shipbuilding hub in the country.
Other than the anchor Tsuneishi shipbuilding facility, Panga said that other shipbuilder locators in WCIP include Advanced Catamaran Composites Inc., Asian Craft (Cebu) Inc., and Austal Phil PTY Limited.
The ecozone currently hosts 11 locators from medium to heavy industries, including some of the world’s leading shipbuilding firms, strengthening Balamban, Cebu as the shipbuilding capital of the Philippines.
