SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The number of workers here has increased to 112,653 with the rising number of investments, and thus job opportunities for Filipinos, in the freeport, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority revealed.
SBMA Administrator lawyer Wilma Amy T. Eisma said the total active workers inside the freeport has “significantly increased” by 11 percent from 2015 following a 12.76-percent rise in the number of locators.
Currently, the Freeport has 1,536 investor companies, compared to 1,340 firms recorded in 2015. Eisma said 1,093 new accounts are now being processed by the SBMA.
Eisma commended the freeport’s top five employers, namely Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines with 33,296 employees; Nidec Subic Phils Corp. (5,240); Sanyo Denki Phils. Inc. (4,011); Tong Lung Phils Metal Industry Co. Inc. (2,900); and Nicera Phils Inc. (2,294).
The administrator said one of the reasons why companies choose to invest in Subic Bay is its accessibility by land, air and sea, conducive to both tourists and the movement of goods.
Eisma added the Freeport “has a high quality of air and ambience” since it is gifted with natural resources, mountains, and water and nature parks.
“We also pride ourselves with the safety and security provided by our law enforcers here. The Freeport has gated entry and exit points,” she said, noting the zoning guidelines and restrictions that are strictly enforced.
The freeport also has tax incentives and duty-free importation of raw materials and capital equipment. “Along with these is the unrestricted entry of foreign investments,” Eisma said.
The area “is profitable for business, share values [of companies here] have increased, there is low business risk, capital expenditure is in place, the quality of life inside the Freeport is high, and there is ease of doing business here,” she added.
These factors are what SBMA should maintain “to provide investors the much-needed help they deserve while providing employment to our fellow countrymen,” Eisma said.