Gordon’s 3-2-1 plan seen to create thousands of jobs

With employers expressing concern over rising unemployment, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon yesterday pushed for his "3-2-1 Plan" as a viable scheme to turn Central Luzon into a hub of economic development that will create thousands of jobs for Filipinos in the area and in Nothern Luzon.

The plan calls for the integration of three international airports in Manila, Subic and Clark, two seaports in Manila and Subic, and one major highway that will create one powerful hub in the area, thus the name "3-2-1".

"My plan will help answer the need to create jobs for residents of Central Luzon up to the Northern Luzon, particularly in the long term. If implemented, it will result in the creation of factory towns in the flatlands of Central Luzon, " he said.

Logistical needs of such factory towns, he said, would be serviced by the airports of Subic, Manila and Clark and the seaports of Subic and Manila.

This will have the effect of attracting investments to the area and creating thousands of jobs, and at the same time lift the pressure on Manila’s overburdened infrastructure and reduce pollution as well.

"This will bring work to the people living in factory towns and surrounding areas. They do not have to migrate to Manila to look for jobs," he said.

Then around the factory towns, thriving communities will sprout complete with educational, health, security and commercial services, thus lowering the cost of living for Filipinos in those areas.

Gordon’s plan becomes significant following the warning last Monday of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) of higher unemployment in the second quarter of next year due to lack of new investments that will create jobs.

ECOP president Donald Dee said current trends indicate that the country is suffering more in terms of job losses, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing than in creating new jobs.

National Statistics Office (NSO) data show that at present there are 4.35 million Filipinos without job, about 540,000 more than last year’s figure.

Seeing the potential of Gordon’s plan, the Regional Development Council of Central Luzon has fully endorsed it.

Gordon had conceptualized his plan as early as 1971, which was later enhanced in 1980 with the inclusion of a Freeport, even as he foresaw the effects of the departure of the American forces form Subic and Clark bases.