Tuesday, December 20, 2005

386 get jobs at Port Irene CEZA
By: Francis C. Hidalgo

Santa Ana, Cagayan: Around 368 town residents found permanent jobs when the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority opened Port Irene, the so-called Subic Bay of the North, for imported vehicles and other materials.    

Julian Gonzalez, principal engineer of the CEZA, said, “Since the government decided to open the port for imported vehicles, many car enthusiasts and businessmen are coming to our place to buy vehicles.”   

 He added that because the port needs manpower, the economic zone officials decided to recruit the 368 people from Santa Ana.   

 “This is another accomplishment of the job-creation program for the Filipino people of President Arroyo,” Gonzalez said.   

He added: “We started the operation only on June 28, 2005, but we are already getting vehicles from Japan and South Korea.”   

The imported vehicles are affordable for as low as P200,000  to a high of P750,000.00, depending on the model.   

Abe Peralta, port operation officer, said most of the jobs are for mechanics and mechanical engineers who will convert the left-hand drive vehicles to right-hand drive. Others will remodel and recondition engines.