STATEMENT OF SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN ON THE SIGNING OF THE AUTHORITY OF FREEPORT AREA OF BATAAN ACT

With President Duterte signing into law Republic Act No. 12133, or the Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Act, many more families in Bataan will have access to a wider range of employment opportunities. Since its creation, the AFAB has been instrumental in helping bring down Bataan's poverty incidence, as jobs in the area tripled from 12,777 jobs in 2010 to 39,266 jobs for Bataan residents as of December 2018.

With the AFAB Act now signed into law, we can finally tap AFAB's full potential to spark economic growth in the province. Aside from fostering the higher migration of businesses and skilled workers into the province of Bataan, the AFAB Act will enhance the province's international positioning and competitiveness, and push greater contributions to national development.