MANILA - JOBS in the Philippines' export sector will be at risk next year as the global financial crisis worsens, Labour Secretary Marianito Roque warned on Monday.

His comments came after Texas Instruments, one of the largest employers in the local electronics industry, said it will lay off 400 workers, or nearly 20 per cent of its work force in the northern resort of Baguio, from Jan 15.

Mr Roque told reporters labour officials will next month visit the country's export-processing zones, where most of the electronics companies are based.

Mr Roque said the authorities did not know how many workers stood to lose their jobs. Electronics firms employ more than 300,000 people and account for nearly 70 per cent of the country's total export value.

Mr Roque said a government study showed the sector would be among those to be hit hard next year as recession grips the United States and other key western export markets.

'Definitely the export industry will be affected,' Mr Roque said.

'The export industry is dependent on credit so the effect will surely be considerable,' he added.

Philippine exports plunged 14.8 per cent from a year earlier to US$3.97 billion (S$5.7 billion) in October, the latest available official figures. -- AFP