Clark locators offer over 3,000 jobs

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Monday announced that 14 big locators here are offering 3,255 job opportunities which they intend to fill up before Christmas Eve.

CDC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Benigno N. Ricafort said that despite the economic crisis, employment opportunities inside the freeport zone continue to increase as business operations continue to expand. In fact, by 2010, 3,000 new jobs will be opened.

The job opportunities will prioritize landslide and flood-stricken families from Pampanga and others areas in Luzon.

“To address the effects of the world financial crisis, the CDC is working hand-in-hand with its locators and investors through the continuous holding of dialogue. Because of these regular consultations with Clark stakeholders we continue to improve our services,” Ricafort said.

“One major advantage of Clark is its freeport status, plus the special economic zone at the Sacobia Valley giving investors a low five-percent tax rate,” Ricafort said.

CDC Public Relations Manager Angelo “Sonny” Lopez said the state-run corporation has a total number of 434 operational companies, with a committed new investment of P36.51 billion.

It was learned that actual investment at CDC have already reached a total P68.63 billion, mostly from firm involving industrial, garments manufacturing, tourism, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), electronics, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries, Lopez said.

Ricafort has also cited Clark’s proximity to Subic and the presence of infrastructure and facilities like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) as advantages amid the financial crisis. By FRANCO G. REGALA - Manila Bulletin