THE FAB STAKEHOLDERS’ NIGHT and THE FAB AWARDS

In recognition of the significant role of our key stakeholders in the success of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) conceived the Stakeholders’ Night as part of the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the passage of Republic Act 9728, the law that established the freeport in 2010.

During the first five years of its operations, the AFAB increased the freeport’s investment portfolio by over 200 percent and generated thousands of jobs. With this, the FAB was hailed as the fastest growing freeport in the country in 2012 and 2013. The Authority acknowledges that it received such distinction with the help and support of its partners, attached agencies and members of the FAB community. For this, the AFAB gives FAB Awards as a way to show gratitude and appreciation to all stakeholders.

The FAB Awards also recognize the positive and significant contribution of the FAB locators in expanding investment projects in the freeport, boosting the local economy’s growth and sustaining the national development. Lastly, the FAB Awards aim to honor enterprises for their outstanding achievement in their respective industries.

Categories of the FAB Awards

The Top Employer Award is presented to outstanding locators that have provided gainful employment and at the same time promoted and supported the Authority’s policies on industrial peace, harmony and productivity.

Eligibility and Criteria

All locators with at least 300 workers are eligible for the Top Employer Award. The selection and assessment of awardees is based on the following criteria approved by the Authority:

1.       Job Generation: Considers the number of jobs that the locator provided for the residents of Bataan and Mariveles for the years 2010 to 2013.

2.      Labor Compliance: The locator promotes compliance to the labor laws.

3.       Employees Welfare Programs: The locator demonstrates solid employee recruitment and retention strategies and is committed to workforce development; employee training; employee safety/wellness initiatives; and education/professional development opportunities. The company also implements welfare programs that strengthen employee-employer relationship

4.      Retention Practices: The locator supports government enterprise-based programs like Dual Training System, Apprenticeship and Learnership. The Absorption Rate of the locators is also measured and evaluated.

5.      Corporate Social Responsibility: The locator includes CSR projects in its activities and considers the needs of the employees and the community in forming such programs.

The Top Exporter Award is conferred on FAB-registered locators who recorded the highest export value from 2010 to 2013.

Eligibility

All FAB-registered locators are qualified to receive the Top Exporter Award. They were assessed according to the following categories:

1.       1000 and above

2.      500 and above

3.       100 and above

4.      99 and below

The Locators Appreciation Award is conferred on all enterprises that supported and contributed to the activities and programs of the AFAB for the years 2010-2013.

Eligibility

All FAB-registered enterprises are eligible to receive the Locators Appreciation Award. The awardees are assessed based on their participation in the programs of the AFAB over the past four years.

FAB to honor locators, sets 5th anniversary celebration

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) will mark the fifth anniversary of the passage of Republic Act (RA) 9728, the law that created the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and the AFAB, and celebrate its success with the conduct of various programs for its locators and key stakeholders in October.

“This year, we are not just celebrating the passage of RA 9728, but we are also acknowledging the achievements and the success of the AFAB over the last five years. The Authority will not succeed without the help of our locators and stakeholders, thus this year’s anniversary celebration will serve as our way to thank them,” AFAB Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G.P. Custodio said.

As part of the anniversary celebration, the AFAB prepared four major events that involve the participation of all stakeholders and locators in the freeport. One of the highlights of the month-long celebration is the Stakeholders’ Night, where the Authority is set to honor locators and key institutions and individuals who help made the FAB the fastest growing freeport that it is today.

FAB locators, collegiate schools, including the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Sofnet Information Technology Center, and local government units were also invited to join the FAB Sportsfest. Events in this league are basketball, volleyball and chess.

Meanwhile, to give back to the community, the Authority will conduct a two-day livelihood training seminar for Mariveles residents. Crash courses on fish and meat processing and novelty item making will be held at Barangays San Carlos and Alas-asin.

Moreover, a photo essay competition will be conducted to feature the developments in the freeport.

“I hope that our locators and stakeholders will enjoy this year’s celebration. The Authority is expecting their full participation in the events,” Chairman Custodio noted.

FAB at Five: A Glimpse of FAB’s success

Due to the sudden surge in its foreign direct investments, the FAB has been recognized as the fastest growing Freeport in the country by the National Statistics Coordination Board in 2012 and 2013.

“Since the Authority took over operations from the Bataan Export Processing Zone, it was able to increase the number of locators by nearly 236%, from 39 in 2010 to 92 in August this year. The AFAB is also luring more foreign investments. These are among the reasons why the FAB was tagged as the fastest growing freeport in the country,” Chairman Custodio said.

This year, the FAB is also on track to becoming the fastest growing freeport anew. The Authority generated nearly Php83,958,505,566.00 worth of investments in the first half of 2014, over 138,000 percent higher compared to the Php60,550,00.00 pledges that it recorded in the same period last year.

With the continuous increase in local and foreign investments, thousands of jobs were also opened in the freeport. From the 12,777 freeport employees in 2010, the year when the AFAB took over operations, the employment data increased to 18,543 in August this year.

Today, the FAB is known as one of the leading manufacturing hubs in the country. It possesses a budding cluster of companies producing high-end brands of garments, apparel, shoes and accessories, like bags, jewelries, among others.

DTI Undersecretary for the Trade and Investment Promotions Group Ponciano Manalo Jr. recently expressed confidence that the local supply chain and labor force competencies in the FAB are already established.

“This record-high investment pledges and noteworthy recognition proved that the Authority works hard to contribute to the growth of the local economy and generate more jobs for the people on the ground,” Chairman Custodio said.

 “We assure the national government and the locals in Bataan that we will continue to bring more investments in the region and make sure that the economic growth is felt by the people,” he added.

Season's Greetings

Zen Spa Lounge Opens at the FAB

ZEN SPA Lounge, a partner of Le Petite Spa and Hiroshimako Spa Lounge with more than seven (7) successful branches in Pampanga, Bulacan and Bataan, is now ready to serve the FAB community.

With its DOH spa concept and high tech services, Zen Spa is committed to bring healthy and well-balanced lifestyle to its clientele that ranges from teenagers to retirees, from kids and students to business people, and from women to men.

Among its services and treatments include hand and foot therapy, Thai foot and leg massage, paraffin treatments, body massage, body bleach, nail and facial care. It also offers spa for kids and spa party. With its highly trained therapists, clients are guaranteed the best spa treatments for relaxation after a stressful day.

Zen Spa Lounge is located at 2^nd Floor, Spaces 2 &3, SFB8, Freeport Area of Bataan. It’s open from Monday to Saturday (1pm-10 pm) and Sundays (2pm-10pm ). For inquiries, call or text 09062087575/09223744814.