Bohol Welcomes the First Ever Shipbuilding Facility

Copywritten by Trista Mae Malanguis 

Based on a report by Calvin Cordova of Manila Bulletin, published November 29, 2023

BUENAVISTA, BOHOL — The Province of Bohol has reached a significant milestone with the inauguration of its first-ever shipbuilding and ship repair facility. Developed by Artemis Marine and Industrial Construction Inc. (AMICI), a company under the Primary Group of Builders (PGB), the 19-hectare facility in Barangay Cruz, Buenavista, officially opened on November 28, 2023.

The inauguration was attended by government and industry leaders, including Bohol Governor Erico Aris Aumentado, Buenavista Mayor Dave Duallo, AMICI General Manager Alvin Basal, PGB President and CEO William Christopher Liu, and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Region 7 Director Emmanuel Carpio.

AMICI, established in 2018, began development of the facility in 2019. In parallel with its infrastructure efforts, PGB expanded its technical-vocational school—the School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service (SKILLS)—by establishing a campus in Bohol to support skills training and workforce readiness.

The facility has already generated employment for approximately 400 workers, with around 80% of the workforce coming from Buenavista. It has provided opportunities for local residents, including out-of-school youth, contributing to livelihood improvement and inclusive economic development in the municipality.

Buenavista, a town previously in need of stronger industrial investment, stands to benefit significantly from the presence of AMICI. Local officials view the project as a key driver for economic activity and long-term development. With limited industrial space in nearby Cebu, Bohol is being positioned as a new destination for maritime and logistics investment.

Though AMICI holds a license to build vessels, the company will initially concentrate on ship repair, addressing a national gap in shipyard capacity—an issue that became more evident following Typhoon Odette in 2021. The lack of shipyards has led to long queues for vessel drydocking, highlighting the urgent need for new infrastructure to support the shipping industry.

AMICI’s facility can currently service up to 12 vessels at a time, thanks to large-scale transfer technology and expandable sideward railway systems. Future plans include increasing capacity to accommodate as many as 20 ships.

Beyond advancing maritime capabilities, AMICI’s presence in Bohol reflects its broader mission of community development. Through job creation, education, and long-term investment, the company is contributing to the transformation of Buenavista into a center for economic growth in the region.

For more information or inquiries, contact:
📧 operations.amici@gmail.com
📱+63- (032) 238-6150

This article was originally written by Calvin Cordova of Manila Bulletin and published on December 4, 2023. To view the full article, visit: First-ever ship-building facility in Bohol opens

This version has been edited for clarity and publication purposes while retaining the essence of the original report.