Olongapo City, the closest urban area to the Subic Bay Freeport, accounts for 41.41% of the total workforce, with 68,086 out of 164,400

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reported a 4.8% increase in the freeport zone’s workforce for 2024, bringing the total number of workers to 164,400, up from the previous year.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Eduardo Aliño attributed the growth to foreign investments, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which saw a 28% increase, employing 27,484 workers across 110 companies. However, the services sector remained the largest employer, with 116,776 workers, a slight rise from 115,642 in 2023.

Based on the SBMA’s December 2024 labor data, Olongapo City, the closest urban area to the Subic Bay Freeport, accounts for 41.41% of the total workforce, with 68,086 out of 164,400.

Zambales accounts for 18%, with 29,910 workers, while Bataan contributes nearly 13%, with 21,267 employees. The remaining 27.5% is spread across other areas, including Pampanga, Tarlac, and the National Capital Region.

Aliño noted that while the manufacturing sector drives employment growth, the services sector remains the largest employer in the freeport zone, accounting for 71% of the workforce. This includes jobs in hotels, restaurants, theme parks, logistics, transportation, banking, manpower agencies, schools, and the business process outsourcing industry.

Shipbuilding and marine services saw a slight increase in employment, with 309 workers more across 153 companies. The sector, which remains male-dominated, employed 5,512 male workers and 675 female workers. 

In the construction industry, employment grew by 95 workers, reaching a total of 13,953 across 320 companies.

“The manufacturing sector is key in the increase of employment in the freeport zone. However, the services sector is the number one generator of employment in Subic which includes hotel, restaurant, theme parks, logistics, BPOs, and the like,” Aliño told Rappler on Thursday, January 23.

“SBMA and the Subic Bay Freeport, in general, has contributed significantly in the creation of employment opportunities within the contingent communities of Region III and outside the area like the Visayas and Mindanao areas,” Aliño added.

Despite fluctuations in the national unemployment rate, Aliño expressed optimism about the continued growth of the Subic workforce and highlighted opportunities driven by the region’s expanding industries.

He said that, given the current trend in the Subic Bay Freeport workforce, any fluctuations in the national unemployment rate would not adversely affect the number of workers, as the steady increase is “a good sign of a constant upward pace” in the employment sector.

Aliño also said SBMA’s alignment with national economic plans, along with investments in infrastructure and sustainable eco-tourism, has contributed to substantial job creation in Subic and the surrounding regions.

He said they were anticipating more employment opportunities in Subic freeport because of the Marcos Jr. administration’s “aggressive efforts” to bring more foreign companies to invest in the country. He said the government’s thrust is to create more jobs for Filipinos through direct foreign investments.

Aliño expressed confidence in maintaining job opportunities through new investors like HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines and expansions from companies such as Nidec Subic Philippines, which is investing P4.2 billion in a gearbox manufacturing project expected to create 5,000 new jobs. Other major employers include DaTian Subic Shoes, Goods Manufacturing, and Sanyo Denki Philippines. – Rappler.com