RP contractors vying to partake $ 15-B US military build-up in Guam

MANILA, Nov. 26 (PNA) -- Filipino contractors are now vying to partake in the $ 15-billion U.S. military build-up in Guam.

On Wednesday’s business forum on “Opportunities in Guam for the Philippine Construction Industry” organized by the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. and the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion of the Department of Trade and Industry, Guam government officials have indicated the preference for Filipino skilled workers.

Guam Senator Judith P. Guthertz, chairperson on Guam military build-up an homeland security, said Guam could hire 15,000 Filipino workers starting 2011 until 2014 when the build-up is supposed to be completed.

In expressing preference for Filipino workers, Guthertz traced the history of Guam and the Philippines revealing that Guam used to be a province of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization.

At least 30 percent of Guam’s population is of Filipino ancestry and that Filipinos were in the forefront in the reconstruction of Guam after the World War II, he said.

“We just don’t have enough manpower for massive military build-up,” Guthertz said.

Guthertz also said the hiring of Filipino skilled workers is also made possible with the lifting by the U.S. authorities on the ban of H2 Visa, which restricts the entry of foreign skilled workers.

An alumna of the University of the Philippines, Guthertz also doubted the projected 6,000 workers would really possible because these workers have settled already in Hawaii only to uproot their families to work in Guam.

Aside from Hawaii and the Philippines, the other sources of manpower for the Guam build-up would come from other neighboring islands in the Pacific but would not still suffice the huge requirement.

Guthertz said for every $ 1-billion investments for infrastructure projects, this requires 5,000 workers.

The projected 15,000 jobs that would be created until 2014 do not yet include the projects to be funded by the Japanese government, which agreed to fund the relocation facilities for the U.S. navy that would be transferred from the U.S. naval base in Okinawa.

There would be over 8,600 US marines that would be relocated to Guam plus the US navy for an estimated 28 percent increase in Guam’s 173,000 population.

The military build-up would require new road networks, water and sewerage, power, housing, hospitals and other infrastructure. There will also be build-up off base.

“This is the biggest build-up in the history of the U.S. defense,” Guthertz said.

Guam Senate majority leader Senator Rory Respicio also noted that the pace of construction activities is expected to accelerate the economic growth of Guam in a short period of time.

Respicio has invited contractors to wait for the projects the U.S. military would bid out. Discussions with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Guam authorities are also ongoing.

He also encouraged Filipino groups to put up their own companies in partnership with local groups in Guam to facilitate their entry.

Anthony L. Fernandez, president of the Philippine Constructors Association, noted the huge opportunities that await Filipinos in Guam but stressed the need to conduct more trainings for manpower for skilled workers like carpenters, mason, welders and others.

“The challenge is how do we manage a huge Guam military market,” said Fernandez.

He noted the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries are also very attractive for the Filipino skilled workers.

In addition, there is a booming construction market back home to attend to, Fernandez pointed out.

“We must ensure there are enough people on the ground to help develop our nation. This is a challenge to contractors to keep on training,” Fernandez said.

He said that Filipino contractors may land as sub-contractors to the big contractors, who are mostly multinational firms.

Fernandez further noted that Filipino subcontractors have to abide by the standards that would be set by the U.S. authorities.

He advised contractors to be prepared to comply with the rules and standards stressing that doing business under the U.S. authorities would be a different thing.

“It is not as simple as taking a plane going to Guam,” he said.

Some Filipino contractors have already been undertaking construction projects in Guam although the build-up is expected to start in March next year yet as scheduled.