MARIVELES, Bataan: A Chinese contractor of the second phase of the GN Power Plant now under construction in Mariveles, Bataan, has in its employ 2,191 workers out of which 2,080 are Chinese, 92 Filipinos and 19 from other nationalities, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) said on Tuesday.

AFAB information officer Hazel Ellorin said this was based on their records as of October.

For the second phase of the coal-fired power plant construction, according to her, GN Power Dinginin Ltd. hired Shanghai Electric Power Corp., a Chinese contractor, and five Filipino contractors.

The first phase, the 600 MGW-GN Power Mariveles, is already operational.





Filipino contractors employ all-Filipino workers.

Shanghai Electric mostly has Chinese engineers, supervisors and other technical people being the main contractor on engineering, procurement and construction of GN Power Dinginin.

GN Power itself has 189 workers, 143 of whom Filipinos, three are Chinese and 41 from other nationalities, Ellorin said.

“Shanghai Electric brought Chinese engineers and other technical people because technical knowledge and skills were what’s needed for constructing and setting up the coal plant,” she added.

Elloren said AFAB accredited Shanghai Electric and the workers have a Freeport Area of Bataan working visa and Alien Employment Permits from the Bureau of Immigration.

“Meaning, employment of the Chinese is legal,” she added.

GN Power Dinginin is a 1,200-MGW coal power plant that reportedly started construction in Barangay Alas-Asin here about two years ago.