Baguio ecozone bullish; exports hit $477 million in first two months

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Exports of the Baguio Export Processing Zone in the first two months this year reached $476.8 million driven by the growth in exports of high-precision parts for aircraft manufacturing, electronics and services.


BEPZ zone administrator Dante Quindoza told reporters the exports figure in the first two months this year was slightly higher than the $476.4 million worth of exports registered in the same period last year.

Quindoza said that in terms of employment, there were a total of 8,079 workers employed in the BEPZ, which is lower than the 8,536 employment in the comparative period.

Quindoza said the decline in the employment figure was due to the relocation of one of its locators to Laguna International, another PEZA ecozone.

The employment is expected to be corrected as three companies are replacing the one that relocated to Laguna.

BEPZ is home to 26 companies including 13 manufacturing firms with TI Philippines as its biggest locator and is one of Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s single biggest exporters.

At least 95 percent of BEPZ exports are accounted for by TI.

There are also three BPO centers located in the BEPZ although there are three others located in the Camp John Special Tourism Ecozone and at the SM Cyberzone.

Convergys is also set to open its site in June this year in Camp John Hay with initial seats of 200 although the ultimate goal is to hit 3,000 seats overtime.

Quindoza said there have been good prospects this year for the BEPZ.

He cited the plan of Moog Controls Corp., a supplier to TI, to further expand capacity late this year following the completion of its recent expansion.

Quindoza said that Moog, a high-precisions parts manufacturer, is experiencing robust growth because of the strong demand of products for aircraft manufacturing.

JFS Technology Inc., a services provider to Moog, is also expected to expand this year. Tara Designs Philippines is also expanding while TI has continued hiring people.

Another approved project is the Tree Top Adventure Baguio Inc., a tourism ecozone, although it has yet to register with the agency.

In addition, there is a planned 100-hectare coffee plantation inside the Camp John Hay.

source: mb.com.ph