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Freeport / Ecozone Newsemployment by the end of2009 complemented the entireregion’s 3,889,000 partial count onemployment for the year.At present, Clark’s P6.3billion in actual investments is 19percent of the region’s investmentfi gure of P33.8 billion for 2009.Clark bigger contributionsare forth coming as the globaleconomy recovers, as goodprojects in the pipeline arepursued, and the number ofcapability-enhancing measuresinstituted by CDC this year bring inpositive results, Ricafort said in theexecutive summary of his reporton “Expanding Development,Changing Lives.”“Ultimately, it is CDC’sperformance as a developmentcorporation that will determine theFreeport’s success. It is imperativethat the development in Clarkcontinue to elevate the lives ofthe thousands of people gainfullyemployed in the zone, along withtheir families.”He added: “A resurgentClark Freeport Zone is merely thestart. Clark proposes to be thecatalyst for regional, if not national,economic development. Hence,CDC shall continue with its paralleldevelopment program whichaims to uplift the standards ofbusiness inthe area.”Clark firms form 1stsemicon groupby the CDC- Public RelationsCLARK FREEPORT –Thirteen major firmsin the electronicsindustry here formedthe Clark Freeport’s firstsemiconductor associationduring a consultationconference held on Oct. 5at the Lohas Hotel’s NewWell Being Spa and Resort.Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Benigno N. Ricafort saidtop fi rms here established the Clark Electronics and Semiconductor IndustriesAssociation (CESIA) which “seeks to engage locators in the said industry toinstitutionalize a venue for communication, coordination and cooperationand encourage formation of the fi rst ever semiconductor and electronicsassociation for the Clark Freeport.”“The association is envisioned to spearhead programs for the mutual benefi tof its members in human resource management, pursue mentoring programs,develop common quality and productivity standards, advocate socialresponsibility and proactive industrial relations,” Ricafort added.During Tuesday’s conference the association elected its founding boardof directors from the following companies: SMK Electronics Philippines, NanoxPhilippines,Texas Instruments, Amertron, Inc., Poongsan Microtec, S-NextPhilippines, and PhoenixSemiconductor Phils. Newly-elected CESIA President Herrie Raymond Riveraof SMK said “This ushers in a new era in inter-locator cooperation and will pavethe way for the mutually benefi cial programs for employers and employeesalike.”Rivera is also the president of Nihon Kaisha, an organization of Japaneseelectronics fi rms inside the Freeport here.Clark’s electronics and semiconductor sector is comprised of some 25 foreignand local catering mostly to international markets. The Freeport employs closeto 60,000 workers in various industries, he added.The semicon and electronics sector employs roughly 20 percent of Clark’stotal workforce, making it the largest employment provider in Clark. The sectoralso leads the Clark Freeport in terms of investments, both committed andrealized, and the undisputed leader in export performance.Kita PlasticsThe CDC’s Industrial Relations Unit (IRU), an offi ce under the agency's CustomerService Department, has helped establish various industry associations amonglocators such as the Metro Clark ICT Council, the Clark IT Industries Association,Clark Garments Manufacturers Association, Nihon Kaisha and the Clark HumanResource Council.IRU Head Ervyn Joy Rivera said “These councils and associations serve asvenues for mutual development, industrial cooperation and advocate theglobal competitiveness of their various member- stakeholders. We shall continueto provide the necessary support for them to fulfi ll their respective mandates.”15