Subic workforce breaches 90K mark

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - The number of workers in Subic Bay Freeport has breached the 90,000 mark in 2012.

The announcement came from Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia, citing the aggressiveness of the agency in enticing more investors.

“The current number of employees has kept the Freeport Zone afloat despite the crises that affected the world. We need to strengthen that number to ensure sustained growth in our country’s economy,” Garcia said. 

The service sector inside Subic topped the figures with 38,459 employees (43.16 percent), followed by the shipbuilding or maritime industry with 38,310 (30.65 percent). Coming in third was the manufacturing sector with 15,138 (17.04 percent).

Olongapo City took the biggest chunk in terms of employment with a total of 43,092 followed by the province of Zambales with 19,025; Bataan with 10,963; Metro Manila with 4,399; Pampanga with 3,190 and Tarlac with 2,106.

“We do hope we can add more workers, as this would mean additional employment and less unemployed Filipinos in the country. As much as possible, we want them to work in their mother land and use their expertise to develop our country,” Garcia said.