Freeport / Ecozone <strong>News</strong>CDC a major contributor inexport, employmentin CL – Ricafortby <strong>the</strong> Clark DevelopmentCorpor<strong>at</strong>ion - Public Rel<strong>at</strong>ionsCyberCity Teleservices, Ltc.CLARK FREEPORT— Despite <strong>the</strong> various worldwideeconomic challenges, Clark Development Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion (CDC)has proven its resiliency <strong>and</strong> competitiveness as <strong>the</strong> st<strong>at</strong>eownedfirm made significant contributions in export industry <strong>and</strong>employment in Central Luzon.CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort said <strong>the</strong> corpor<strong>at</strong>ion’s resiliency,decision to redefi ne its goals, <strong>and</strong> build up more productive areas ofcollabor<strong>at</strong>ion with Clark stakeholders, Clark exports in <strong>the</strong> fi rst half of <strong>the</strong> yearhas totaled about $891 million which comprised 33 percent of Region III’s$2.7 billion total exports from 2009.In <strong>the</strong> CDC President’s report, <strong>the</strong> corpor<strong>at</strong>ion through <strong>the</strong> EnterpriseRegul<strong>at</strong>ory Department reported th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> fi rst semester exports surpassed <strong>the</strong>year-ago level of about over $387 million or more than 93 percent increasethis year.output is almost <strong>the</strong> same exportvolume last year, reports st<strong>at</strong>ed.Ricafort also said th<strong>at</strong> arecord 58,023The CDC is hoping th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> targeted $1 billion worth of exports couldbe reached should manufacturers continue to post <strong>the</strong> same trend towards<strong>the</strong> second semester of <strong>the</strong> year.The increase in exports volume this fi rst half of <strong>the</strong> fi scal year was dueto Nanox <strong>Philippines</strong>, Inc. strong showing with more than $493 million in <strong>the</strong>fi rst semester or an increase of 59 percent from <strong>the</strong> same January to June2009, <strong>the</strong> ERD reported.Yokohama Tire Phils., Inc., on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, also contributedstrongly in <strong>the</strong> fi rst semester as it placed second with $106million output--<strong>the</strong>Yokohama Tire<strong>Philippines</strong>14
Freeport / Ecozone <strong>News</strong>employment by <strong>the</strong> end of2009 complemented <strong>the</strong> entireregion’s 3,889,000 partial count onemployment for <strong>the</strong> year.At present, Clark’s P6.3billion in actual investments is 19percent of <strong>the</strong> region’s investmentfi gure of P33.8 billion for 2009.Clark bigger contributionsare forth coming as <strong>the</strong> globaleconomy recovers, as goodprojects in <strong>the</strong> pipeline arepursued, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> number ofcapability-enhancing measuresinstituted by CDC this year bring inpositive results, Ricafort said in <strong>the</strong>executive summary of his reporton “Exp<strong>and</strong>ing Development,Changing Lives.”“Ultim<strong>at</strong>ely, it is CDC’sperformance as a developmentcorpor<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> will determine <strong>the</strong>Freeport’s success. It is imper<strong>at</strong>iveth<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> development in Clarkcontinue to elev<strong>at</strong>e <strong>the</strong> lives of<strong>the</strong> thous<strong>and</strong>s of people gainfullyemployed in <strong>the</strong> zone, along with<strong>the</strong>ir families.”He added: “A resurgentClark Freeport Zone is merely <strong>the</strong>start. Clark proposes to be <strong>the</strong>c<strong>at</strong>alyst for regional, if not n<strong>at</strong>ional,economic development. Hence,CDC shall continue with its paralleldevelopment program whichaims to uplift <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ards ofbusiness in<strong>the</strong> area.”Clark firms form 1stsemicon groupby <strong>the</strong> CDC- Public Rel<strong>at</strong>ionsCLARK FREEPORT –Thirteen major firmsin <strong>the</strong> electronicsindustry here formed<strong>the</strong> Clark Freeport’s firstsemiconductor associ<strong>at</strong>ionduring a consult<strong>at</strong>ionconference held on Oct. 5<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lohas Hotel’s NewWell Being Spa <strong>and</strong> Resort.Clark Development Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion (CDC) President Benigno N. Ricafort saidtop fi rms here established <strong>the</strong> Clark Electronics <strong>and</strong> Semiconductor IndustriesAssoci<strong>at</strong>ion (CESIA) which “seeks to engage loc<strong>at</strong>ors in <strong>the</strong> said industry toinstitutionalize a venue for communic<strong>at</strong>ion, coordin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>and</strong> cooper<strong>at</strong>ion<strong>and</strong> encourage form<strong>at</strong>ion of <strong>the</strong> fi rst ever semiconductor <strong>and</strong> electronicsassoci<strong>at</strong>ion for <strong>the</strong> Clark Freeport.”“The associ<strong>at</strong>ion is envisioned to spearhead programs for <strong>the</strong> mutual benefi tof its members in human resource management, pursue mentoring programs,develop common quality <strong>and</strong> productivity st<strong>and</strong>ards, advoc<strong>at</strong>e socialresponsibility <strong>and</strong> proactive industrial rel<strong>at</strong>ions,” Ricafort added.During Tuesday’s conference <strong>the</strong> associ<strong>at</strong>ion elected its founding boardof directors from <strong>the</strong> following companies: SMK Electronics <strong>Philippines</strong>, Nanox<strong>Philippines</strong>,Texas Instruments, Amertron, Inc., Poongsan Microtec, S-Next<strong>Philippines</strong>, <strong>and</strong> PhoenixSemiconductor Phils. Newly-elected CESIA President Herrie Raymond Riveraof SMK said “This ushers in a new era in inter-loc<strong>at</strong>or cooper<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>and</strong> will pave<strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong> mutually benefi cial programs for employers <strong>and</strong> employeesalike.”Rivera is also <strong>the</strong> president of Nihon Kaisha, an organiz<strong>at</strong>ion of Japaneseelectronics fi rms inside <strong>the</strong> Freeport here.Clark’s electronics <strong>and</strong> semiconductor sector is comprised of some 25 foreign<strong>and</strong> local c<strong>at</strong>ering mostly to intern<strong>at</strong>ional markets. The Freeport employs closeto 60,000 workers in various industries, he added.The semicon <strong>and</strong> electronics sector employs roughly 20 percent of Clark’stotal workforce, making it <strong>the</strong> largest employment provider in Clark. The sectoralso leads <strong>the</strong> Clark Freeport in terms of investments, both committed <strong>and</strong>realized, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> undisputed leader in export performance.Kita PlasticsThe CDC’s Industrial Rel<strong>at</strong>ions Unit (IRU), an offi ce under <strong>the</strong> agency's CustomerService Department, has helped establish various industry associ<strong>at</strong>ions amongloc<strong>at</strong>ors such as <strong>the</strong> Metro Clark ICT Council, <strong>the</strong> Clark IT Industries Associ<strong>at</strong>ion,Clark Garments Manufacturers Associ<strong>at</strong>ion, Nihon Kaisha <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Clark HumanResource Council.IRU Head Ervyn Joy Rivera said “These councils <strong>and</strong> associ<strong>at</strong>ions serve asvenues for mutual development, industrial cooper<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>and</strong> advoc<strong>at</strong>e <strong>the</strong>global competitiveness of <strong>the</strong>ir various member- stakeholders. We shall continueto provide <strong>the</strong> necessary support for <strong>the</strong>m to fulfi ll <strong>the</strong>ir respective m<strong>and</strong><strong>at</strong>es.”15
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