432,000 new jobs targeted in C. Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — President Arroyo has vowed to create six million jobs in the next six years, and officials in Central Luzon said they can fill in about 432,000 new jobs up to 2010.

In a meeting hosted here by Gov. Mark Lapid, the Central Luzon small and medium enterprises team under the umbrella of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Luzon said 432,000 new jobs can be created in the region from 2005 to 2010.

DTI regional director Blesila Lantayona said Bulacan and Pampanga have the biggest potentials in employment generation because of the big support that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) get from the provincial governments.

The team said 5,314 new jobs can be generated in Aurora; 29,860 in Bataan; 144,837 in Bulacan; 45,619 in Nueva Ecija; 131,587 in Pampanga; 41,131 in Tarlac; and 33,653 in Zambales.

In Pampanga, the team targets the creation of 17,362 new jobs in 2005; 19,190 in 2006; 21,016 in 2007; 24,673 in 2008; 24,673 in 2009; and 24, 673 in 2010.

The team is composed of regional officials of the DTI, the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Governments, Land Bank of the Philippines, Technical Skills Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Information Agency and National Economic Development Authority, and local government executives from all over Central Luzon.

Lantayona cited Lapid’s active support for the team, noting his creation of the provincial cooperative entrepreneur development office which offers low-interest loans ranging from P50,000 to P200,000 to legitimate and active cooperatives.

Lapid has vowed to strengthen the hog raising industry in his province to provide enough meat supply to local meat processors. The Pampanga Meat Processors Association has been in need of pork suppliers to meet the growing demand.