NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac (PIA) — The infrastructure projects and approved investments under the Marcos administration are expected to generate thousands of job opportunities in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
This was stated by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairperson and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño during the Build Better More Infrastructure Forum of the Presidential Communications Office held in New Clark City.
Aliño stressed that the current 160,000 workforce is projected to increase up to 200,000 by 2028 due to the positive economic impact of investments approved and infrastructure projects.
Among these include the agreement between Cerberus Capital Management and HD Hyundai which will restart the shipbuilding industry in the freeport.
“This latest partnership will once again put the freeport and the country into the list of top ship building nations, and more importantly, create thousands of new job opportunities for our countrymen,” he said.
The P4.2-billion expansion of Nidec Subic Philippines Corporation, dubbed as Project Kinematix, will open 5,000 jobs until the final incentivized year.
Aliño likewise mentioned that the P2.3-billion expansion project of Sanyo Denki Philippines requires additional 1,500 workers to manufacture uninterrupted power supplies, cooling fans, servo amplifiers, and stepping motors.
On another note, the official bared the plan to connect Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas through high impact infrastructure projects to accelerate growth in critical industries and generate economic opportunities.
In support of the Luzon Economic Corridor, he discussed the construction of a Multi-Purpose Port Terminal, a 570-meter wharf with a depth of 12.9 meters, at Lower Mau to provide an additional capacity of 2.5 million metric tons bulk cargoes.
He stressed that these infrastructure projects and investments are aligned with the national government’s goal to expand and sustain the “Golden Age of Infrastructure” under the Build Better More Program.
“Our big ticket projects, initiatives and undertakings are being implemented in support of the national government’s thrust in improving the competitiveness of the freeport, and at the same time uplifting the quality of the lives of our workers and stakeholders,” he pressed.
Apart from job opportunities, Aliño highlighted the ongoing construction of the Center for Excellence training facility to ensure the sustainability of industries, and to develop the competencies and talent of the workforce.
“We hope to provide relevant training to our workforce through technical education and skills development. The P21-million facility will be completed early next year,” he said.
To ease the lives of the workforce, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will have a housing project for employees under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program.
“In addition to housing, we are looking into building dormitories for our freeport workers. These dormitories will be built close to the industrial centers to reduce the cost for companies and workers while at the same time reducing the number of cars and commuters on our roads,” he furthered.
Expected to be completed by 2028, the dormitory project has a P960-million budget allocation.
SOURCE: Trixie Joy B. Manalili PIA3
