Ambassador Garcia-Albano at various maritime industry booths at BEACON Expo 2026.

TOKYO 12 October 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano participated in BEACON Expo 2026, held from 29 to 30 September at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, as part of the Philippine Embassy in Japan’s continuing efforts to support the further development of the Philippine shipbuilding and ship repair and maintenance (MRO) industry. During the event, Ambassador Garcia-Albano engaged with Philippine and Japanese government officials, and representatives of the maritime and shipbuilding industries. She highlighted opportunities to deepen cooperation with Japanese companies and encouraged Philippine stakeholders to explore business partnerships, investments, technology cooperation, and other opportunities with Japan.

The Ambassador underscored the strong strategic convergence between the Philippines’ efforts to further develop its shipbuilding and MRO capabilities, and Japan’s plans to revitalize and expand its shipbuilding industry under its strategic investment plan. She noted that closer cooperation between Philippine and Japanese maritime industry companies could generate opportunities for investment, technology and skills development, supply-chain integration, and the expansion of ship repair and MRO capabilities in the Philippines.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano (left) receives a copy of “The Ballad of Scarborough Shoal: Bajo de Masinloc Poems” from the its author and BEACON 2026 Guest of Honor, Labor and Employment Secretary Francis Tolentino.

The Philippines is the world’s fourth-largest shipbuilding nation and is also a global leader in ship manning. The country’s substantial maritime workforce and established shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities provide a strong foundation for further expanding its role in the global maritime industry.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano emphasized that the advancement of the Philippine shipbuilding and MRO industry is strategically important for the country as a maritime nation, not only for economic growth but also for national and economic security. She added that strengthening domestic shipbuilding, ship repair, and related industrial capabilities can enhance the country’s maritime resilience, create quality employment, develop technical skills, deepen local supply chains, and strengthen its capacity to support the requirements of a modern maritime economy.

The Ambassador also highlighted the longstanding contribution of Japanese companies to the Philippine shipbuilding industry and the potential for further cooperation as Japan seeks to strengthen its own shipbuilding capabilities. She encouraged Philippine maritime stakeholders to engage their Japanese counterparts in identifying areas where the complementary strengths of both countries could support mutually beneficial investments and partnerships.

The Embassy continues to facilitate linkages between Philippine and Japanese government and business stakeholders and to promote opportunities for Japanese investment, technology partnerships, and industrial cooperation in the Philippine maritime industry.

The Embassy’s participation in BEACON Expo 2026 forms part of its broader efforts to promote Philippine industries and attract Japanese investment and partnerships in strategic sectors, while further strengthening the Philippines-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano (4th from right) with Japanese government officials and Herma Shipyard, Inc. executives.

Share this post: on X on Facebook on LinkedIn