ZamboEcozone Chairman and Administrator Hon. Georgina P. Yu said that the establishment of such facilities here in this city would be a competitive advantage and privilege for the Zamboangeños, as it would create job generation and business promotions here.

Chairman Yu said that the comparative lead of Zamboanga City among other places in Mindanao is that there are much available ICT graduates here. Some 26 colleges and universities in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula are offering ICT courses, there are about 30,000 graduates of it courses and mathematics in Zamboanga Peninsula and approximately 45,000 graduates of Engineering and Technology courses in the region.

“As an ecozone, security and stability of ICT park within its 1st Industrial Park can be controlled, it has its own security management and control, backed up by the local police force and the military,” Yu said.

Other opportunities ecozone can offer is that it has sufficient and un-interrupted power supply, reasonable fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, cost efficient operations, unique manpower advantage, revives the local economy and gives support to the local community.

ZamboEcozone projects to venture into Call Centers, Software Development and Maintenance, Medical Transcription Academy, Litigation Support and other related ICT services.

Such ICT business enterprise would target the market in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Middle East, the United States and Europe. -30-

Chairman Yu said that the said project will be successful with the expression of full support of other cooperating agencies of government like the Department of Science and Technology, National Computer Center,  Regional Information Technology and E-Commerce Council, Philippine Tourism Authority, National Telecommunications Commission and the Commission for Information and Communication Technology.

At present, ecozone has already prepared a proposed IT Call Center Station within its administration building for further study and availability to would-be investors who will locate in the zone for such kind of relative business. - Marlon P. Simbajon/Information Officer III

ZamboEcozone Deputy Administrator for Planning and Operations Mr. Meinrad B. Yanga said that the organization of such civilian militia forces came after the Board of Directors of Ecozone together with Task Force Zamboanga forged alliance in protecting the remaining forest of Zamboanga City in the west coast which is situated inside Ecozone highland territory and the security of the constituents in the neighboring villages.

Last month, residents in the highlands of Barangays Pamucutan and Upper La Paz became worried of their security when some residents sighted some unidentified heavily armed men along the border of the forest in their villages.

Mr. Yanga said that the organization of SCAA forces in ZFA and the west coast is very timely for the start of this year amidst reported presence of suspected lawless elements and illegal poachers in the mountains of west coast threatening the old forest growth and watershed area of the city.

“It is the prime mission of the SCAA forces to protect life and properties in the mountains of west coast,” Yanga said.

The 88-man SCAA members will come from the neighboring barangays of Talisayan, La Paz, Patalon, Sinubung, Labuan, Limpapa and Pamucutan respectively, whose residence is located within ZFA territory.

The applicants will initially screened by the Barangay officials who will form part of the initial screening committee of members from their locality, while further phase of screening will also be done by ZamboEcozone officials.

Upon securing necessary application forms and documents, the qualified individuals will be finally selected by army cadres of Task Force Zamboanga who will determined their physical, mental and emotional capabilities for the tough job before qualifying for the training which will be done within Ecozone grounds. The AFP will issue their respective service firearms while Ecozone will provide the necessary allowances and benefits entitled for its members.
“There will be no abuse of authority within the members of these civilian militia forces, because they will be directly under the supervision and control of the military,” Yanga stressed.

The official said that applicants should be full-time residents of each barangay mentioned and should have no derogatory or criminal records.

Mr. Yanga met with the Barangay Captains of the west coast last week to discuss the matter and for them to be guided accordingly regarding the application process, identification and selection of possible recommended SCAA members and the mobilization and deployment of such forces in their respective areas.

DEMAK MOTORS OPENS LOCAL MARKET
The first motorcycle assembly company in Zamboanga City Demak Motors Philippines Incorporated (DMPI) has opened its doors to the local market by selling their quality tested motorcycle products here.

Having considered Zamboanga City and the Philippines as a motorcycle market, Demak Motors, which is the Number One motorcycle brand in Malaysia established their assembly plant here for better marketability and proximity to their country as well.

Demak Motorcycles has unique features and specifications which is fully furnished alloy materials and top coated plastic covers that can be fully enjoyed by motorbike enthusiasts in the city. Demak motorcycles is being sold in minimal prices compared to those Japan-made brands.

Mr. Lin Bin, Plant Manager of Demak Motors, Inc. which is based inside Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (ZamboEcozone) 1st Industrial Park said that their brand is competitive in quality and performance with those known brands sold in the market today, but the only difference is their affordable and consumer friendly price.

The company has authorized local dealers now in the city like EMCOR Motorcycle outlets and Eazy Marketing.

“You can see for yourself the big difference in the price of our motorcycles which has the same quality, disposition and performance with other brands the public know,” Mr. Bin said.

Demak Motors Philippines, Inc. is the 1st motorcycle assembly plant in the Philippines which cater domestic and international market. The company has various assembly plants all over Asia. Aside from their main manufacturing plant in Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia the company has other assembly plants in China, Indonesia and West Malaysia.Demak motors also specialized customized-design motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) units, golf carts and rural vehicles according to the necessity of their customers. The said company is targeting the Asian market for their products. - Marlon P. Simbajon/Information Officer III

The newest locator of Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (ZAMBOECOZONE) begins its hiring of skilled employees to work for their corporation here in Zamboanga City.

FINEX GROUP OF COMPANIES INCORPORATED, is a domestic trading enterprise who engage in the importation and recondition of used industrial and heavy equipment, agricultural machinery, trucks, buses, sports utility vehicles and passenger vans for the domestic market.

Mr. Ely A. Orallo, Vice-President for Operations of the company said that their business will operate the soonest possible time as long as their first shipment from Japan will arrive here in the local port.

Orallo told the Labor Services Section of ZamboEcozone headed by Senior Labor Services Officer IV Jimmy Vesagas their immediate manpower requirement for such operation here.

Mr. Vesagas on the other hand recommended to the company its existing manpower pool who passed the initial interview provided by the office for the labor requirements of every locator in ecozone.

The company is in immediate need of skilled workers in automotive like; welders, tinsmiths, automotive electricians, automotive aircon technicians, dashboard converters, automotive painters and converters of right hand drive to left hand drive vehicles. They must submit their application forms, bio-data and other pertinent papers to the Labor Services Section of ZamboEcozone in San Ramon, west this city.

ZamboEcozone Chairman and Administrator Hon. Gerogina P. Yu said that the labor requirement of FINEX Company would benefit the skilled workers of this city. FENIX Group needs a cumulative manpower requirement of some 300 workers in its initial year of operation and would reach to 2,000 employees or more within five years of doing harmonious business here.

Two new companies recently signed-up an investment contract with Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (ZAMBOECOZONE).

FENIX GROUP OF COMPANIES INCORPORATED and SOUTHERN AUCTIONEER INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED inked yesterday with ZAMBOECOZONE officials their business intent to invest here in Zamboanga City.

FENIX GROUP OF COMPANIES INCORPORATED, is a domestic trading enterprise who engage in the importation and recondition of used industrial and heavy equipment, agricultural machinery, trucks, buses, sports utility vehicles and passenger vans for the domestic market. While SOUTHERN AUCTIONEER INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED is the marketing arm of the latter in the auction and shopping of the imported reconditioned vehicles for the domestic market.

ZAMBOECOZONE Chairman and Administrator Hon. Georgina P. Yu welcome this development which marks another milestone not only for ecozone but also for Zamboanga City considering its projected additional benefits for the Zamboangeños in terms of taxes, income and labor requirements.

“Eversince, it is the objective of ecozone to assist in the progress and development of our city by bringing investors to do business here, were glad we got another one this year and there are still others who expressed the same interests,” Yu said.

During the signing of business contracts yesterday, FENIX Group of Companies President Jaime Escaño said that his company is happy to do business here in Zamboanga City considering the strategic location and benefits of ecozone, the good business climate and hospitable people.

The company is expected to operate its trading of imported vehicles and machineries from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe and the Middle East within three months time after preparing necessary documents and facilities needed for their nature of business.

Chairman Yu said that the labor requirement of the two companies would benefit the skilled workers of this city. FENIX Group needs a cumulative manpower requirement of some 300 workers in its initial year of operation and would reach to 2,000 employees or more within five years of doing harmonious business here.

The second company will also need some 30 to 200 workers for the auction selling and marketing during its operational period. Employment generation would greatly benefit those skilled workers according to the necessity of the two companies in the nature of their business.

The official said that FENIX Group of Companies and Southern Auctioneer Int’l. Inc. intends to auction the imported used vehicles that they purchase to the local market whose potential buyers are from Regions IX,X,XI,XII,XIII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Peoples Republic of China Ambassador Li Jinjun visited Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority Sunday forming part of his one and a half-day visit to Zamboanga city of which his first in Mindanao.

Ambassador Li Jinjun was welcomed by ZamboEcozone Officer-In-Charge Meinrad Yanga and other officials of the authority who also sponsored a short program and tendered lunch to his excellencies delegation.

During his speech the ambassador was impressed over the first hand informations he received from ecozone regarding its operations and facilities which would be a great business potential for the city in the coming years given the opportunity to progress.

The ambassador said that he was truly overwhelmed over the hospitality and the business-inclined climate of the city which would be also a considerable destination for Chinese businessmen.

The official said that upon his return to Manila and his country, he would make it a point to volunteer himself as an ambassador of goodwill expressing the wonderful opportunities ecozone could offer to Chinese enterprise.

“It is my first time to know that there is an ecozone and Freeport in Zamboanga City and being only one in Mindanao, it is an opportunity to develop and invite more businessmen, like Chinese businessmen,” Jinjun said.

The official pronounced that some of the business opportunities the Chinese government and its business sector can assist the Philippines and Mindanao in particular are the assistance in the establishment of a National Railway System, aid/assistance on agriculture and fishery sector and infrastructure development, which is also a trend in their country.

“The Philippines is considered by China, not only as our Asian neighbor, but also, a business partner,” Li Jinjun said.
As part of his city tour, the ambassador also motored around ZamboEcozone compound, the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Canning factories in the west coast and Pasonanca Park before leaving back to Metro Manila in theafternoon of the same day.