FAB workers up by 29%, more job opportunities open

MARIVELES, Bataan – Over 5,000 job opportunities were opened in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in 2015, as more investors located in the industrial zone tagged as the economic dragon of the Philippines.

The number of FAB employees hired by registered locators and manpower agencies last year increased to 25,803 or 28.91% higher compared to the 20,017 workers recorded in 2014.

“The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) welcomed this new development. Since 2010, the Administration has been working hard to bring more investors and big manufacturing corporations to the free port,” Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G.P. Custodio said.

“The investments pledged by the locators are felt by the people on the ground through the opening of more job opportunities. We assure the national government and the people that we will continue to work hard and bring more investments to contribute to the growth of the local economy,” the chairman added.

The employment rate in the FAB increased as new companies started operating and the existing locators expanded their operations. FAB-registered locators are currently in need of over 2,600 employees.

Among the locators hiring are Mitsumi Phils, Inc., Perpetual Prime Mfg., Inc., Essilor Mfg. Phils., Inc. and Dong-In Group of Companies’ Mountaineering Instruments Corp. and Edge Soft Good Solutions, Inc.

Meanwhile, the newly registered locators in 2015 are expected to open at least 4,900 jobs in the next three years. There are 114 registered locators in the FAB as of December last year. The enterprises include Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, American, Japanese, British, Bahrainese, French and German businesses.

The FAB has been tagged as the emerging economic dragon of the country after it maintained its status as the fastest growing free port from 2012 to 2014.

The FAB is the emerging fashion manufacturing hub of the Philippines, as it possesses a budding cluster of companies producing high-end brands of garments, apparel, shoes and accessories, like bags, jewelries, among others. Its vision is to be the Freeport of choice in the country by 2020, becoming a center of trade, innovation and sustainable development in Asia and promoting work-life balance and global competitiveness.