Subic Freeport workforce hits 142,177

Workers enter the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which continues to generate jobs for residents in adjacent localities. (Photo courtesy of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Despite the difficulties that most businesses are facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of workers in this free port increased last year.

According to data released by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Monday (Jan. 31), the number of workers reached a yearend total of 142,177.

SBMA Chair and Administrator Wilma Eisma said new investments and business expansions generated 87 percent of the current workforce here.

Eisma said the 3,190 Subic-registered companies had employed a total of 102,540 workers, while 93 manufacturing firms have a total of 21,529 employees.

All of the 237 construction companies operating in the free port hired a total of 12,225 workers, while 112 companies engaged in shipbuilding and marine-related services hired a total of 5,884 workers.

“It’s true that some of the companies here have closed or were forced to reduce their manpower complement because of the pandemic, but overall, the number of workers in Subic actually increased by 1.03 percent in 2020 and by 2.31 percent last year,” Eisma said in a statement.

She added: “So, this means that Subic has been coping very well with the challenges posed by the current health crisis, and was finding new opportunities for businesses to survive and even prosper,” she added.

Except for a .32 percent decrease in workforce count in 2009, this free port has been seeing an upward trend in job generation since 1999 when the total number of workers stood at 19,969.

“From there, our count continuously climbed to 55,875 in 2004; 88,450 in 2010; 112,653 in 2016; and finally, 142,177 in 2021,” Eisma said.