DOLE, DTI to convince Honda Cars Philippines to continue production in Laguna

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will meet with the management of Honda Cars Philippines Inc (HCPI) on Monday morning after the company announced the closure of its production operation in Laguna.

According to a report on Monday of Isa Avendaño-Umali on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV, Labor Secretary Bello III said he will personally talk to the management of HCPI in Laguna.

.@laborgovph at @DtiPhilippines, makikipagpulong sa Honda Cars Philippines ukol sa inanunsyong pagsasara nito. | via @Isa_Umali pic.twitter.com/sEUuBeXYxV

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 24, 2020

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez will also be present at the meeting, according to Bello.

The Labor secretary said they will discuss with HCPI management the clear reason and the possible impact of the closure.

Security personnel guard the front gate of the Honda Cars Philippines Inc. manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Sunday, February 23, 2020. The company said it will shut down its plant in March 2020 for 'efficient allocation and distribution of resources.'  Danny Pata

The government officials will try to convince HCPI to continue its operation in Laguna to save the jobs of over 300 employees, according to Bello.

On Saturday, HCPI announced that it would cease production operations at its plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna in March 2020.

"To meet Honda's customer needs in the Philippines for reasonably priced and good quality products, Honda considered efficient allocation and distribution of resources," HCPI said in a statement.

"As such, after consideration of optimization efforts in the production operations in Asia and Oceania region, Honda decided to close the manufacturing operations of HCPI."

Its sales and after-sales service operations in the Philippines, through its Asia and Oceania regional network, will continue. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News