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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:46:00 06/02/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Seventeen areas in the country now have investors
from the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, according to the
Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).
CICT has identified a total of 22 areas in its drive to establish so-called
ICT hubs ideal for BPO investors, according to Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim.
The commission is now working on adding Tagbilaran and Tuguegarao the list, he told
INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
"Out of these, 17 already have locators and most of them have created their respective
ICT councils to take care of HR [human resource] issues," said Ibrahim, who is heading
CICT's efforts to establish ICT hubs in partnership with the private sector.
Quezon City, which already has BPO locators in areas like Eastwood City, is the latest
to form an ICT council. Metro Manila, which comprises Quezon City and other cities like
Makati and Mandaluyong, is considered as just one area or ICT hub.
Ibrahim also cited the growing awareness about BPO in cities outside of the Metro Manila.
He also noted increased enrollment in ICT-related courses in these areas.
The local BPO industry today generates estimated revenues of $5 billion and the industry
is targeting to more than double that in less than three years.
Call centers continue to be the biggest revenue contributor although there are non-call
center investments as well, even in areas outside Metro Manila.
In Bacolod, for example, major US operator Convergys is opening a call center, the fourth
operator to locate. The latest investments in Bacolod also include a software company, and
BPO companies that handle services for medical billing and investment banking customers.
"Total employment in Bacolod is expected to reach 6,000 by the end of the year. That should
result to about P60 million to P90 million in new investments getting in Bacolod's local
economy," Ibrahim said.
The 17 areas are as follows: Bacolod, Bacoor, Baguio, Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cainta,
Naga City, Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lipa, Manila, Sta. Rosa and Dagupan.
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