SGS invests $1M to expand laboratory testing facilities

Swiss surveillance and customs valuation firm SGS (Societe Generale de Surveilance) is investing about $1 million (roughly P53 million) to expand its laboratory testing facilities in the country even as it continues to hope to collect on its unpaid fees from the government.

According to David W. Robinsons, chief executive officer of SGS Gulf Limited, SGS remains optimistic of collecting its outstandinding receivables from the government of P7 billion from customs inspection and valuation services rendered in the 1980s up to the mid-1990s.

SGS, Robinson said, still has a pending case against the Philippines with the International Court for Settlement Dispute in Washington.

At the same time, Robinson said, SGS remains cordial and open to negotiations with the government regarding the payment of the P7 billion.

Notwithstanding the P7-billion collection case, SGS, Robinson assured, remains committed to stay in the Philippines as evidenced by its BPO (business process outsourcing) and call center operation and laboratory testing facilities in the country.

SGS, thus, Robinson disclosed, directly employs 300 people and provides indirect employment for an additional 1,000 or more workers.

SGS, in fact, Robinsons said, is investing an additional $1 million this year to expand its existing laboratory and testing facilities in Metro Manila and Cebu.

SGS has six laboratory testing facilities in the country, with two located in Makati, one in Malabon, one in Cebu and one in Rapu-Rapu.

SGS, Robinson added, is willing to offer its services anew to the government following suggestions from the business sector to contract a customs valuation firm to check technical and outright smuggling activities.