To commemorate the contributions and achievements of freeport’s stakeholders, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) held its 5th Annual Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) Stakeholders’ Night last 29 May 2018 at the Bataan Convention Center, FAB, Mariveles, Bataan.

The event was graced by the presence of local officials of the province of Bataan, including Vice Governor Maria Cristina Garcia, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Hon. Manuel Beltran, Hon. Edgardo Calimbas, Hon. Rolando Tigas, and Hon. Noel Valdecañaz, Sangguniang Bayan ng Mariveles member Hon. Susan Murillo, Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Balanga member Hon. Benjie Maerino, and officials from Barangay Alasasin and Barangay Baseco.

Also in attendance were the officials from 54 different FAB Registered Enterprises, as well as representatives of the various attached government agencies, socio-civic private groups, and banks and other members of the financial sector.

AFAB Deputy Administrator for Support Services, Atty. Roderick E. Manzano opened the night by thanking the various stakeholders for their trust, support and cooperation, stressing further that the night is all about recognizing the endless efforts of the FAB’s stakeholders. As part of said recognition, the AFAB conferred once again the FAB Awards, which for this year is consisted of the Top Employer and Top Exporter Awards.

The Top Exporter Award is bestowed upon FAB Registered Enterprises that recorded the highest export value for the past calendar year, while the Top Employer Award is given to outstanding FAB Registered Enterprises that have provided gainful employment and at the same time promoted the AFAB’s policies on regularization, industrial peace, harmony and productivity. The top three finishers for each category were duly recognized during the event.

“Although we may only end up recognizing a handful of enterprises tonight, do trust us that all the efforts of all FAB Registered Enterprises are duly appreciated by the AFAB. Rest assured that moving forward, these awards shall be able to recognize and acknowledge the efforts of more of our enterprises” Deputy Administrator for Operations Alewijn Aidan K. Ong expressed during his introduction of the FAB Awards.

Mitsumi Philippines Inc. emerged as the overall Top FAB Exporter, while Desktop Bags Philippines Inc. was recognized as the Top FAB Employer for 2017.

AFAB Chairman and Administrator Emmanuel D. Pineda, during his inspirational message, presented the AFAB’s overall theme for 2018 – Expanding Diverse Possibilities. Chairman Pineda expounded on this theme by saying that it refers to the expansion of the FAB’s investment portfolio as the AFAB moves to target a wider set of investment, especially in the field of commercial and business process outsourcing, as well as the expanding of the Authority’s effort on delivering top-notch and world-class service.

All these efforts are made with the FAB stakeholders in mind. Chairman Pineda closed his message by reiterating that “this is all about the FAB community as we aim to build a community that truly cares for the welfare of each other - a community where people can live and grow. A community that we can all be proud of that we can call our own.”

The FAB Stakeholders’ Night is an annual event of the AFAB which aims to recognize the achievements and various endeavors of the different stakeholders of the Freeport. Part of the annual festivities is the awarding of the FAB Awards – awards that recognize the outstanding performance of the FAB Registered Enterprises in several areas such as export and employment.

AFAB