MORE than 1,000 employment opportunities in construction industry are open in Guam, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said construction workers would be needed in Guam in line with the transfer of American military facilities from Okinawa, Japan.
"Initially, the construction of the first big project, a Naval Hospital worth US$700 million, will be awarded before the end of September this year and the construction of the hospital will begin by the first quarter of 2011," said Baldoz.
As indicated in the report of Saipan-based Labor Attaché Carmelina Velasquez, Baldoz said the 1,000 workers will just be the start of it.
"Construction for the military facilities build up will be until 2020 and, every year, a project worth about a billion US dollars shall be awarded."
The Labor chief said this would mean that some 7,000 to 10,000 construction workers would still be needed in the succeeding years.
Baldoz also quoted Velasquez as saying that many contractors in Guam are eyeing Filipino workers due to their experience and track record.
Aside from job opportunities in Guam, Baldoz said there is also a potential that employment opportunities would open up in the island of Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI).
Tinian is being eyed by the US military as training grounds for at least 200 marines.
"Should this project push through, there would also be employment opportunities for Filipino workers in CNMI," said Velasquez's report. (AMN/Sunnex)