FORD: Filipino’s Opportunity for Rapid Development

True to its vision and mission as the country’s leading partner towards sustained economic growth, Ford Group Philippines played host to another achievement as it unveiled recently its 30,000th vehicle for export. It was also Ford’s opportunity to reveal its plans to built, export, and eventually to locally launch Europe’s well-adored vehicle, the Ford Focus. The Ford Focus joins the Mazda 3 as another vehicle under Ford’s New Car Program, which is part of the $50 million expansion program as pledged by its Chairman and CEO Bill Ford on his October 2003 visit to the Philippines.

As the only manufacturer that builds and exports proudly Philippine made vehicles, the unveiling of the 30,000th vehicle was one of the many positive results of the highly successful Ford Export Program. Witnessing this momentous occasion was no less than Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some government officials, Ford’s industry partners particularly the local parts suppliers and its dealers, and various members of the media.

"We are proud to achieve this 30,000th export production and even more excited about the unveiling of our latest export model, the Ford Focus. We are confident that with the production and export of the Ford Focus, our export numbers will increase dramatically and translate to better times for the local economy, increased jobs, and more pride in the ability of the Filipino to produce world-class European vehicles like the Focus," Ford Group Philippines president Henry Co said in a statement.

Since its launch in 2002, Ford Philippines’ Export Program has exported from the country some 28,000 vehicles to four countries in the ASEAN region. Currently, its ISO-certified 250,000 square meter plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, produces Ford’s Lynx and Escape models, as well as Mazda’s 3 and Tribute. It has also expanded to accommodate the export of CKD (Completely Knocked-Down) kits to Ford Vietnam, which has started last October 2004.

To date, the Company’s export program has generated some $380M from Philippine-made vehicles. Ford also enjoys the status of being the automotive firm with a positive trade balance, having $455 million of consolidated export of vehicles and automotive parts, against $160 million of imports. This alone is evidence of Ford’s unwavering commitment to be the Filipino’s link towards success.

"We extend our gratification to the Philippine government, particularly President Macapagal-Arroyo, for the support her administration has extended not only to Ford, but to the entire local automotive industry. The rationalization of the excise tax law and the granting of export incentives have spelled the difference in making the auto industry more competitive with the rest of our ASEAN neighbors," Co further added.

As another benefit, the Ford Export program has resulted in increased employment for Filipinos, which meant 12,000 additional jobs both directly and indirectly. The Ford plant’s workforce in Sta. Rosa, Laguna had to be doubled, and is further expected to reach 1,200 personnel by 2006.

The local parts suppliers and manufacturers shared Ford’s success as well, by gaining the advantage to expand not only locally but also ASEAN-wide as well. They now export their wares to other Ford affiliates in North America, Europe, Taiwan, South Africa, and Japan. Joining the usual array of wiring harnesses, seats, and fuel systems are starters, alternators, and carpets.

Ford may not be a locally brewed brand, but one cannot overemphasize what it has done as a corporate citizen. It has done more than what is required of a foreign investor. Aside from generating income and jobs to boost the local economy, it has also done what other Filipinos cannot do: to entrust to their fellow countrymen the task of uplifting their country, and keeping it high together with their other neighbors in the ASEAN region.