MARIVELES, Bataan — The Freeport Area of Bataan is now working on 18 expansion areas in the province. FAB administrator Emmanuel Pineda also said the freeport is now among the fastest growing economic zones in the country based on the number of locators, investment and workers.

As of October 2022, it has a total of 94 operating enterprises and about 39,695 workers wherein 64 percent were already regularized.

Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan Administrator Emmanuel Pineda disclosed during the same period, the freeport generated a total of P11.3 billion worth of investments from its enterprises, P158.5 million from port services revenue and $835 million from export transactions.

AFAB likewise completed a total of P13.4 million worth of infrastructure within the FAB community.

Law supports investments surge

Meanwhile, of the 18 expansion areas in the province, seven are operational while the others are undergoing development.

As of 2022, only Morong and Orion have no FAB expansion areas. With these, Pineda underscored the impact of Republic Act 11453 in driving higher investments with focus on emerging technologies and industries.

The law strengthened and empowered AFAB functions as it was able to register and provide appropriate incentives to new technologies and allowed the declaration of expansion areas within Bataan.