TUCP hails 4,600 new HRM jobs at ‘Entertainment City’

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has hailed Solaire Manila, the world-class fully-integrated resort and gaming complex in Parañaque City, citing the more than 4,600 new jobs the project would create.

“We are absolutely behind the project, which will surely generate well-paying jobs in the services sector,” said former senator and TUCP president Ernesto Herrera.

“We have thousands of Hotel and Restaurant Management graduates who are totally jobless and desperately looking for gainful employment. They will benefit from the project,” said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.

Herrera, designated by President Aquino as vice chairman of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, was referring to Solaire Manila, which is being developed by Bloomberry Resorts Corp. on 8.3 hectares of reclaimed land leased from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

The country’s huge surplus of HRM professionals has prompted the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to discourage fresh high school graduates from taking up the program, along with four other “oversubscribed” courses — teaching, nursing, business administration and information technology.

Phase 1 of Solaire Manila, costing $650 million, will open in 12 months. It will consist of 27,700 square meters of gaming area, including 1,200 slot machines and 300 gaming tables; 500 hotel rooms; international restaurants, coffee shops and bars with 1,363 combined seats; a 1,000-seat grand ballroom; spa and fitness center; a bay view promenade; and 3,000 parking slots.

Even before Phase 1 is completed, the project has already produced some 5,000 construction-related jobs, which Herrera said tend to benefit underprivileged families. –Daily Tribune