SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—More than 3,000 jobs were offered to jobseekers here on Monday during a jobs fair organized by locator-companies and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Labor Department in celebration of Labor Day.
SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma said the huge volume of jobs being opened to workers could be attributed to the growing number of investments in the Freeport, and the participation of businessmen from the nearby city of Olongapo.
Eisma said more than 100 business locators participated in the job fair and offered jobs ranging from housekeeping and various skilled positions for electricians to plumbers, welders, and even engineers.
Thousands of applicants from Olongapo and the nearby provinces of Zambales and Bataan filled the jobs fair venue at the Ayala Harbor Point mall to full capacity, she said.
The increasing number of job openings in the Freeport indicates the growing success of the SBMA in attracting more investors to Subic.
“As of late, Evergreen Shipping Company, which is to make its maiden voyage to the port of Subic, negotiated for the establishment of an industrial city at the Redondo Peninsula,” Eisma said.
“Last week, the country’s first ship-to-ship transfer operation of liquefied natural gas commenced here. All these signal more jobs and more opportunities for local workers,” she added.
While SBMA is doing its best to attract new investors, she noted the agency also promotes harmonious working relationships between workers and management, and initiates projects for workers’ welfare.
“We believe that quality performance by employees is not only the end result of getting good salary or working in a big company. Quality performance also comes about if workers feel good about their employers, and if investors feel good about their employees and the SBMA,” she explained.
Meanwhile, SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor Jr. said the job fair was just one of the activities they organized for the Labor Day celebration here.
“We had a fun run, and as early as 5:30 in the morning, we already had 750 worker-runners doing the three-kilometer fun run around the Freeport’s Central Business District. Then we also had a company float parade, singing contest, and muse and dance competitions,” Pastor said.
The contestants in the various competitions were all workers from Subic-based companies, he added.
Pastor also said that during the May 1 event, Freeport workers choose to relax alongside colleagues from other companies, as well as SBMA employees.
“We make a big difference here in Subic because while many of our labor organizations are joining street protests and rallies to celebrate Labor Day, workers in Subic Freeport run for fun and good health. This is a day for camaraderie and to thank every member of the labor sector for a job well done,” he added.