Manila resort needs Cebu workers

A NEW resort and gaming complex in Pagcor’s Entertainment City in Manila is inviting Cebuano workers as it becomes operational early next year.

Opening in 2013, the Phase 1 development of Solaire Resort & Casino (Solaire Manila) is expected to hire 4,600 full-time employees.

Top company officials were in Cebu yesterday to kick-off the two-day recruitment caravan at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

“The Cebuanos’ talent, competency and positive work ethic make Cebu an obvious choice,” the company said.

Some 313 positions for gaming and hotel operations are available, including entry-level positions for fresh graduates.

“We will find the best staff here to give life to our project in Manila,” Solaire Manila chief operating officer Michael French said during the press conference.

Skilled workers

He is optimistic the company will hire the needed workers, saying the country is home to “hardworking, highly-skilled and competent people.”

Solaire Manila is a $1 billion integrated destination resort being developed by Bloomberry Resorts Corp., a property company led by ports magnate Enrique Razon.

Razon, , whom Forbes listed as third richest man in the Philippines, is chairman and chief executive officer of the publicly-listed company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).

Gaming experience

The Phase 1 development of Solaire Manila covers the 8.3 hectare site adjacent to the Manila Bay. Upon completion, this will be the first integrated resort to open in Pagcor’s Entertainment City.

Officials said Solaire Manila “will provide a first-class gaming experience to customers” from all demographics. The resort will have 500 rooms, suites and bayside villas; an 18,500 square-meter gaming space; 300 gaming tables; 1,200 slot machines; a number of restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges and a multi-level car park.

Those hired will go through four months of training. The company will also conduct recruitment caravans to places like Baguio and Manila and even abroad such as in Macau.

“One of the goals of this project is to generate employment among Filipinos. We intend to bring back the talents who have gone abroad and give them career opportunities here,” said Renato Gonzales, Solaire Manila’s vice-president for human resource and administration.

Gonzales said they received 18,000 job applications. He said, however, that they are having hard time looking for qualified talents because of job mismatch.

“Of the 18,000 applicants only 6,000 are qualified,” he said. Gonzales noted that the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) needs to work out programs that would address the mismatch between available human resources and the kinds of jobs required by industries.

To fill the gap, Solaire Manila will train applicants who have been hired.

“Apart from competency, we are putting premium on behavior and attitude aspects,” Gonzales said.

The upcoming Phase 2 and 3 development of the project is expected to generate 6,000 to 8,000 jobs.

Solaire Manila currently has a hundred employees.