Bataan freeport work force up 29%

MARIVELES, Bataan — The Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) created over 5,000 jobs in 2015 with more companies opening up and spawning thousands of employment inside the Freeport, touted as the country’s emerging economic dragon.

The number of FAB employees hired by registered locators and manpower agencies last year increased to 25,803 or 28.91% higher compared to the 20,017 workers recorded in 2014.

This surge in employment contrib- utes hugely to the growth of local economy with people having more money to spend with and with establishments getting more revenues, said in a statement by Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB).

“The investments pledged by the locators are felt by the people on the ground through the opening of more job opportunities. We assure the national government and the people that we will continue to work hard and bring more investments to contribute to the growth of the local economy,” AFAB said.

Adding to the employment boom, international and local companies in FAB are still in need of over 2,600 employees as new companies start operations and existing locators expand bases.

AFAB stated that the newly registered locators in 2015 are expected to open at least 4,900 jobs in the next three years.

Newsmen learned that since 2010, the provincial government of Bataan led by Gov. Abet S. Garcia, author of AFAB law when he was a congressman, and the AFAB administration have been working hard to bring more investors and big manufacturing corporations to the freeport.