Arroyo visits US clothing firm in Clark

Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday visited a firm recognized as a model for the best practices in human resource management. Singled out by Arroyo was the Smart Shirt Philippines Limited, one of the locators at the PhilEx Business Park here, a statement issued by the Palace said. From Tarlac City where the President led the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Tarlac-La-Union Toll Expressway and the dry run of the Subic-Clark Expressway, Arroyo had an informal interaction with some of the 3,000 workers of the shirt factory. The President was also given a tour of the factory by Smart Shirt Phils. General Manager Mark Pressley. As they toured the different sections of the shirt factory---from the pattern making, cutting, sewing,pressing and packing,Pressley briefed the President was briefed by Pressley on the production process. The President was visibly pleased as she obliged to pose for photos with the workers. Smart Shirts Philippines is a subsidiary of Youngor Group Co. ltd . it manufactures garments for brands such as Nautica, Nordstrom,Claiborne,JC Penny,among others, and export these to the United States and the United Kingdom. It is currently using the ''dipping technology'' for wrinkle-free+ process,a state -of-the-art technnology and the first in the country. The Smart Shirt Phils.Workers' Union has renegotiated its collective bargaining agreement with the management in Sept. last year. From the shirt factory, the President proceeded to her hometown of Lubao in Pampanga where she attended the mass in commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal. - GMANews.TV