Japan’s Panasonic Corp., the world’s biggest maker of plasma television, yesterday said it will no longer cut jobs in the Philippines this year after shutting down its battery plant in Taytay, Rizal.

A Panasonic official said the firm’s Philippine unit also expects to maintain its market leadership despite the economic slowdown.

“The effect of the global economic crisis is not so much as felt in the Philippines. We expect sales to be as brisk as during previous years, if not better,” said Hirowuki Iwaki, local sales and marketing director, at the sidelines of the launching of an environment-friendly alkaline battery.

Panasonic in January announced the closure of its factory in the Philippines and another plant in Malaysia amid a slump in the global electronics market.

Some 60 Filipino workers in Taytay and around 500 Malaysian workers at its electronic parts plant in Malacca lost their jobs in January.

The Osaka-based company is cutting 15,000 jobs and shutting down around 27 plants worldwide this year due to the global economic meltdown.

Iwaki said the company would maintain its no. 1 post in split-air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines.

“We are seriously hoping the Philippine market will catch up on our eco-ideas products in mitigating climate change,” he said.

Panasonic is shifting to more eco-friendly consumer products that are recyclable and less pollutant by removing toxic components such as lead and mercury. Panasonic aims to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent in 2009, or 3,399 metric tons, and 45 percent or 3,799 MT in 2010.

“We want to generate strong public awareness and understanding of the availability of environment-friendly products and services. This is our commitment and we stand steadfast in fulfilling this ecological responsibility,” said Jeffrey Woodruff, sales group general manager. Othel V. Campos