The Board of Investments (BOI) has awarded “Green Lane” certification to a P30-billion steel recycling and manufacturing complex in Quezon province by Candelaria Steel Inc., a unit of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. (SAMC).
In a statement released Wednesday, the BOI said the certification was formally handed over by Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo to SAMC President Andre Sy in a ceremonial presentation on July 3.
The project, which aims to cut the Philippines’ dependence on imported steel, covers the construction of a next-generation mini-mill in Candelaria, Quezon that will integrate scrap metal recycling and the production of heavy steel sections.
Once completed, the plant will be capable of producing up to 1 million metric tons per year of structural steel components such as H-beams, I-beams, angles, channels, sheet piles, and universal mill plates — core materials used in buildings and major infrastructure.
Fast-tracked
The Green Lane certification falls under Executive Order No. 18, which streamlines the permitting process for strategic investments by enabling national and local government agencies to process applications in parallel, rather than sequentially.
The program is part of the Marcos administration’s broader effort to fast-track high-impact investments in priority sectors.
The BOI said the Candelaria facility is expected to begin commercial operations by July 2027. At full scale, it will directly employ 655 workers within the plant and generate an estimated 3,000 indirect jobs across supporting sectors and the local economy.
Sustainable shift in steelmaking
Beyond its industrial and economic footprint, the project introduces a decisive shift in how steel is produced in the country.
Instead of relying on imported iron ore or billet, the new facility will use electric arc furnace (EAF) technology — a cleaner and more energy-efficient method that melts locally sourced recycled scrap metal.
The BOI said this approach will slash carbon emissions by at least 70 percent compared with traditional blast furnace production, aligning with both global sustainability targets and the Philippines’ commitments to green industrialization.
Reducing supply chain vulnerabilities
By recycling scrap metal domestically and manufacturing heavy steel sections onshore, the project is expected to significantly reduce the country’s vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and long lead times.
Currently, the Philippines relies heavily on imports for structural steel, often adding three to four months to project timelines for large-scale construction.
“This investment represents a leap forward in building a self-reliant, sustainable steel industry,” the BOI said, noting that the facility not only supports local infrastructure development but also strengthens the country’s strategic resilience in basic industries.
