SBMA doubles January-June hiring rate

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) continues to show strong economic growth by hiring more than 10,000 workers from January to June this year, according to SBMA labor department head Severo Pastor. In his mid-year report submitted to SBMA chairman Felicito Payumo, he stated that the SBMA doubled the employment statistics with 10,415 workers compared to 5,208 in the same period last year.

"The high employment figure speaks well of the strong economic growth of Subic Freeport and the SBMA is confident that more new jobs will be available this year with the scheduled opening of new manufacturing plants and expansion projects of existing locators," Payumo said.

Payumo said the SBMA maintains its performance despite the current economic crunch by creating more jobs as mandated by RA 7227 (Bases Conversion Act).

The SBMA under Payumo has generated employment for 39,810 since he assumed office in September 1998.