President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday fully supported the revival of the national steel mill industry in Northern Mindanao, citing its crucial role in propelling the country’s industrialization.

Speaking during the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao (RDC-X) meeting in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, President Marcos said that there are ongoing discussions with both local and foreign groups interested in forming ties to bring the National Steel Corp. back to life.

“There are already discussions among certain groups, both foreign and local, that would ensure a partnership to revive the steel mill,” the President said.

President Marcos said that locally producing steel “is critical for any industrialization that we are planning.”

In December 2024, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the (RDC-X) hosted “Building the Future: A Forum on the Establishment of an Integrated Steel Mill (ISM) in Northern Mindanao” which assembled leaders and representatives from government agencies, business, local government units, and the academe to discuss a pathway to resuscitate the region’s potentials into transforming itself into a steel powerhouse.

Meanwhile, the President also said that he will instruct the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate the capability of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex (APHC) to supply the necessary power needed to operate a steel mill.

The APHC, located in Maramag, Bukidnon, is composed of seven run-of-river hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of about 1,000 megawatts (MW). However, steel production in Region X would require at least 1,500 MW of consistent power supply.

“I will bring your concerns to Secretary (Raphael) Lotilla of the Department of Energy to see what’s possible. We need to do a technical analysis to determine if we can meet the 1,500 MW power production threshold,” he added.

The members of the RDC pushed for the revival of the 500-hectare property previously occupied by the National Steel Corp., citing its potential to restore the city’s status as the “industrial city of the South” and to create jobs. | PND