The COVID-19 pandemic has already prompted many companies to lay off employees, but this is not the case with this one agro-industrial hub in Davao, which is hiring at least 500 people toward the remainder of the year after securing more tenants.
In a statement, Damosa Land Inc (DLI) said that its agro-industrial hub, Anflo Industrial Estate Corporation (AIEC), had secured new locators this month, which would result in 400 to 500 job openings.
These locators are Southern Harvest, Inc., a banana-chips processing and packaging company; Foam Pack, a foam manufacturing company that produces foam products used in the agricultural industry; PMR Pallet Ltd. Co., a pallet manufacturing company; and Connovate Philippines, a corporation that uses high-performance concrete building technology for construction.
These firms, according to DLI, are the newest addition to AIEC’s 15 local and international locators represented by different countries namely Philippines, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and the United States.
“Even amidst the pandemic our nation faces, AIEC continues to see a boom in construction, with most new locators on track to open their facilities by the end of the year. In fact, we have been receiving more inquiries during the ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] period and onwards compared to the first quarter of 2020,” said DLI Head Ricardo Floirendo Lagdameo.
“Around 500 jobs are now available and more work opportunities should become available in AIEC as new facilities operate before the year ends,” he added.
AIEC is a 63-hectare industrial Special Economic Zone registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), while its owner, DLI, is the property development arm of the ANFLOCOR Group of Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr., a known ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Among the existing locators in agro-industrial estate are Packwell Inc., Del Monte Fresh Produce Philippines, Phildutch Polymer Inc., Manly Plastics Inc., and Davao Zhenzhi Plastics Corp., whose products are primarily focused on agriculture and packaging.
Lagdameo said what’s happening in AIEC ecozone is “in stark contrast to job losses experienced in major centers in Luzon and the Visayas.”
As of August 26, there are 5,197 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davao City.
“We remain optimistic about the revival of Mindanao’s economy, and that these new locators will definitely invigorate the local economy and give hope to those greatly affected during the pandemic.
The opening of four more business factories will provide a positive impact to the city and the surrounding region as this shows that there are still investments and job opportunities coming into the region,” Lagdameo said.
Mindanao currently accounts for 40 percent of the country’s food requirement and 30 percent of its food trade.
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Article originally posted by Manila Bulletin last August 28, 2020 1:48pm and written by Madelaine B. Miraflor.
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