RP Three major projects start in Central Luzon

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Three new major projects involving fuel additive blending operations, aircraft maintenance and a call center simultaneously opened yesterday in Central Luzon.

President Gloria M. Arroyo led the opening of Petron fuel additives blending plant here, Teletech’s newest customer management center in San Fernando, Pampanga, as well as the ground-breaking for a $100-million maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex.

Petron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nicasio I. Alcantara said the project resulted from a Fuel Additives Blending Agreement entered into by Petron and Innospec — formerly Associated Octel Ltd. — a leading global fuel additives supplier in Asia and the Pacific.

"The project combines Petron’s first-rate technical services, marketing capability, and strategic location with Innospec’s fuel additive technologies and strong presence in Asia," Mr. Alcantara said in a statement.

Petron said about 80% of the facility’s production will be exported to various Asia-Pacific markets, and the rest will be exclusively used by Petron for its Blaze, XCS, Xtra Unleaded, E10 Premium and DieselMax fuels.

Ms. Arroyo also led ground-breaking ceremonies of the $100-million MRO facility of SIA (Singapore Arilines) Engineering Corp. and Cebu Pacific Air in Clark. Both have formed SIA Engineering (Philippines) Corp. for this project, which involves construction of three hangars to service long-haul commercial aircraft in a 10-hectare area at the airport.

The first hangar will service narrow-bodied aircraft like Airbus 320s, while the second and third will service wide-bodied aircraft such as Boeing 747s and 777s.

Clark International Airport Corp. President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said the facility is designed to improve services at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, which is being positioned as the country’s premier gateway.

The facility is expected to generate at least 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of next year.

After the groundbreaking ceremony in Clark, Ms. Arroyo proceeded to Teletech’s newest customer management center, located in SM City in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Teletech’s newest facility, which is designed to have 1,720 seats, is expected to have 1,950 employees.

Teletech currently employs 18,500 workers in its 12 customer management centers in Fort Bonifacio, Pasay, Novaliches, Cainta, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Lipa, Cebu, Bacoor, Iloilo, Pampanga, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

In a statement issued yesterday, Teletech President Kenneth Tuchman said his firm has decided to increase Teletech’s work force in the Philippines to 25,000 by the end of next year. — R. M. Garcia