US DEFENSE SECRETARY AUSTIN VISITS SUBIC BAY, EVALUATES CAPABILITY OF SDC FACILITY

UNITED STATES (US) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III recently visited Subic Drydock Corporation (SDC) in Subic Bay, Zambales to evaluate the facility’s capability to support US Navy and allied vessels.

During Austin’s visit, SDC senior production manager Tito Peralta and administrator Diana Ross Mazo highlighted the company’s high-quality ship repair services and its longstanding support for the US Navy, Military Sealift Command, and the Philippine Navy.

Secretary Austin interacted with the officers and crew members of the USNS Millinocket, a Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ship currently undergoing a major 10-year overhaul at SDC.

The extensive maintenance includes over 145 work items and 136 change orders, covering repairs to the underwater hull, habitability, machinery, piping, aluminum structural elements, preservation, and electrical systems.

Established in 2006, SDC is a US-owned, Philippine-registered corporation that has become a key maintenance provider for US Navy and MSC vessels in the Philippines.

It operates two floating drydocks with capacities of 8,700 tons and 4,400 tons, respectively, and is the only company in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with such capabilities.

SDC officials are optimistic that Secretary Austin’s visit will lead to additional projects, building on the company’s successful track record in complex ship repairs.

The facility’s growth supports the economies of Olongapo City, Zambales, Bataan, and neighboring areas by creating jobs and fostering business opportunities for maritime service providers.

SDC voiced its support for Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Aliño’s initiatives to attract more jobs and investments to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.