Jobs could await 30,000 Pinoys as Christchurch recovers from earthquake

Jobs might be available for some 30,000 Filipinos in New Zealand as Christchurch recovers from a devastating magnitude-6.3 earthquake in February last year.   In a news release, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said officials of Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) mentioned the possible the job openings during a meeting with Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez and Minister Marcos Punsalang last January.   “CDC informed Benavidez the rebuilding of Christchurch in the near future would need 30,000 workers and that the Philippines could be among the sources of much needed talent and work force for this endeavor,” the DFA said. CDC officials are also reportedly interested in Philippine companies teaming up with Christchurch companies.   The CDC said interested individuals and companies may visit its website for updates. The key functions of CDC include planning, implementing, and overseeing development in Christchurch and the Canterbury Region.   CDC is focused on information technology (IT), manufacturing and agribusiness sectors.   Benavidez and Punsalang also met with officials of Ballantynes Department Store, and the Chairman of Prime Foods New Zealand to pursue business linkages last January.   Offshore farming, BPOs   Meanwhile, Benavidez discussed with CDC representatives the interest of the Philippines in New Zealand’s offshore farming arrangements.   She also told its representatives of developments on the Philippine IT/business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.   “From a $9-billion industry in 2010, the Philippine IT /BPO is expected to reach its goal to become a $25-billion industry by 2016,” the DFA said.   The Embassy will link up CDC with the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) to explore possible partnerships for the Philippine IT/BPO industry.   Benavidez also informed CDC about the incentives being offered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to foreign investors who wish to locate their operations in the Philippines.   These include:

• tax-free operations for the first five years,
• a flat five-percent gross income tax after the first five years of operations,
• duty free importation of capital equipment like computers, and
• the granting of permanent residency visa to expatriates and their families.

“Subsequent discussions focused on possible trade opportunities in the areas of healthcare, the export of kiwi fruit to the Philippines, production of Philippine rubber, machining of tools and parts, interest of Philippine companies in investing in Canterbury’s R&D sector and possible exchange of trade mission between the two countries,” the DFA said. - RJMD/VVP, GMA News