Subic workforce breach 90,000 mark

THE number of workers in Subic Bay Freeport has breached the 90,000 mark during 2012, said Roberto Garcia, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator, citing the aggressiveness of the agency in enticing more investors.

“The current number of employees has kept the Freeport Zone afloat despite the crises that affected the world. We need to strengthen that number to ensure sustained growth in our country’s economy,” Garcia said.

The service sector inside Subic topped the figures with 38,459 workers, followed by the shipbuilding or maritime industry with 38,310, while making it to the top three was the manufacturing sector with 15,138.

Olongapo City had the huge slice of the pie in terms of employment with a total of 43,092; followed by the province of Zambales with 19,025; Bataan with 10,963; Metro Manila with 4,399; Pampanga with 3,190 and Tarlac with 2,106.

“We do hope we can add more workers, as this would mean additional employment and less unemployed Filipinos in the country. As much as possible, we want them to work in their mother land and use their expertise to develop our country,” Garcia said. (Anthony Bayarong/Sunnex)