ALONG THE HIGHWAY

Clark jobs /Firecracker blues
GEORGE TRILLO

BOCAUE, Bulacan – Call it history, but the series of explosions during the Yuletide Season which rocked this town is no laughing matter which could just be ignored to oblivion. Call it luck for the hundreds of people who were not hurt when the explosions started. Coming from different places in Region 3 and Metro Manila to this town particularly at Barangay Turo to buy pyrotechnic products for the New Year revelry, the visitors scampered to safety when the series of explosions started.

A report sent to Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Errol Pan by Senior Supt. Allen B. Bantolo, Bulacan police director, stated no one was reported killed in the explosion, but several persons, including an employee of Channel 7 television network, were hurt and taken to a hospital for treatment. The victims were not immediately identified.

Firemen fought the ensuing blaze, which raged for nearly three hours. Initial police investigation showed that the explosion started in the Malaparan Fireworks store.

An unidentified, smoking firecracker buyer allegedly threw a lighted cigarrette butt which accidentally dropped at the stocks of firecrackers in the store. The blast triggered a series of explosions in the other firecracker and pyrotechnics stalls. The ensuing fire destroyed at least 10 stores. Whew!

Katulad ng nangyari noong taong 2005 na walong kabataan ang namatay ditto sa Bocaue dahil sa pagsabog ng mga tindahan ng paputok sa kabilang lugar ng barangay ding ito; maiiwasan sana ang trahedyang ito kung natuto na ang mga tao at sinunod nila ang lahat ng babala ng health officials at ng ating kapulisan na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang paninigarilyo malapit sa mga tindahan ng paputok.
***
The continued confidence of investors in the management of Clark Development Corp. has resulted in an increase in the employment rate in the Clark Special Economic Zone to more than 6,000 new workers during a one-year period from May 2004 to May 2005. History, but this is a gauge that things are going for the better at the former American facility.

In a report submitted to CDC president Antonio R. Ng, the customer service department stated the number of jobs generated in the economic zone was at an all-time high of 34,652 workers as of May 31, 2005. Last year, Clark had only 28,674 of employees hired by 281 locators that have been reporting to CSD on the number of their employees. The CSD said the number of jobs in Clark from 2003 to 2004 was 28,274, up by 6,045 new jobs created in support of President Arroyo’s thrust to generate more employment opportunities for the masses.

Most of the workers hired belonged to the industrial sector inside the economic zone with about 3,715 new workers last year, followed by 1,050 in the tourism sector, and 651 hired in the information technology sector. The steady increase of employment opportunities in the economic zone could be attributed to the hike in investments recorded last year during which 85 new lease agreements were signed. From January to April this year, 30 new lease agreements were signed.

These are expected to provide more employment opportunities to residents of Metro Clark and neighboring towns. The new agreements also brought to P81 billion the amount of committed investments in the economic zone in the next five years. While others have embarked on expansion programs, several firms have geared to create more jobs this year as some 6,000 new employment opportunities are expected to be generated before year-end. Among the firms that are set to expand their operations are Hansa Toys Manufacturing firms, Yokohama Tire Philippines and Cyber City Teleservices Ltd. (CCTL). Cyber City will create some 1,500 job opening for its expansion programs from April to December, this year. More than 500 workers will be hired this year by Yokohama Tire Phils. in Clark, while 1,000 jobs will be opened within the year at Hansa Toys. Epixtar, another call center that will locate in Clark, will hire about 4,000 new workers.