SUBIC FREEPORT WORKFORCE. Workers enter the Subic Bay Freeport main gate to get to their workplaces. At present, there are 135,224 active workers in the Freeport. (Photo courtesy of SBMA)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- This premier Freeport is fast regaining its number of the workforce which was severely affected by the closure of Korean shipyard Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation.
Records from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) showed that the number of workers inside the Freeport has reached 135,224 in the first half of the year, surpassing the 133,940 record in the same period of 2018.
SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma T. Eisma said she is happy that active workers in this freeport are just a bit lower compared to last year’s yearend record of 135,690.
Eisma expressed optimism that the last year’s employment record would be broken anew following the rise of investments.
Steady growth in investments in the first half of this year has increased the number of workers in this premier Freeport despite the closure in January of Hanjin shipyard, which used to be the single biggest employer here in the past 10 years.
“Steady increase of new investments, as well as expansion projects, we’re also expecting a corresponding steady increase in the number of new jobs,” she added.
Records also manifest the service sector contributes to the biggest number with 92,453 workers or 68.37 percent of the total workforce employed by 2,765 companies as of July this year. In June 2018, the record was 76,652 workers hired by 2,470 companies.
The manufacturing industry employs 23,031 employees (17.03 percent) working for 88 companies compared to 18,197 employees working for 85 companies in this category.
Meanwhile, the construction sector hired 11,729 workers (8.67 percent) by 199 companies as of the first half of this year, against last year’s 10,868 employees from 185 companies.
Eisma noted that the rehabilitation of various infrastructure facilities inside the Freeport, including roads, had significantly increased the number of workers hired by construction companies here.
She said the closure of Hanjin, which filed for bankruptcy last January 2019, has caused a 450 percent- drop in the number of workers in shipbuilding and marine-related services.
Another sector that showed a positive gain in the first half is the domestic helpers or caretakers employed at residences in the Freeport which increased to 2,110 (1.57 percent) from a total of 1,664 in the same period last year.
Among the sources of manpower, Olongapo City remained to be the biggest provider in the first half of 2019 with a total of 59,107 workers (43.71 percent), followed by Zambales with 28,855 (21.34 percent); Bataan, 18,501 (13.68 percent); National Capital Region, 4,642 (3.43 percent); Pampanga, 3,574 (2.64 percent); and Tarlac, 1,679 (1.24 percent). Other areas contributed to a total of 18,866 workers or 13.95 percent.
Eisma said the SBMA expects continuing growth in employment generation with the 45 new investments and 21 expansion projects the agency approved in the first six months this year.
The new investment commitments worth more than PHP5 billion are projected to generate close to 4,000 new jobs, she added. (PNA)
