^^oh i see. thanks.:)

^^nice to hear that. so lopues is joining the bandwagon. are they closing down the bowling center?
^^
no, they won't, daku ang space sa 3rd floor annex.:)

Metro Manila still preferred location for BPOs

09/15/2008


MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila is still the preferred site of some business process outsourcing (BPO) firms because of its ample supply of talents badly needed by the industry.

In a press briefing, global IT consulting firm Headstrong said there are no immediate plans to open a site outside Metro Manila since the pool of human resources the company needs is still in the area.

Nora Terrado, country manager of Headstrong Philippines Inc, said the company is considering other sites outside Metro Manila but downplayed the possibility that opening a new site outside the National Capital Region will happen this year.

Headstrong's top brass announced last week that it is beefing up its capacity in the Philippines so that the operations can contribute to 15 percent of its projected revenue of $500 million globally by 2011. The revenue projection is more than double its current revenues of $200 million.

Arjun Malhotra, Headstrong chairman and chief executive officer, said the company is willing to invest some more in the Philippines after already putting in $18 million in the local operations so that the Manila Global Delivery Center based in Makati City can meet its revenues goals.

Part of the plan is to scale up the company’s workforce in the Philippines from the current 650 to 4,000 of the total 10,000 global Headstrong workforce by 2011.

Terrado was asked the possibility of opening sites outside Metro Manila since the government and the local industry group representing BPOs are identifying so-called next wave cities. These cities are alternative sites outside Metro Manila where BPOs can set up operations to decongest NCR and bring business and job opportunities to other cities.

Terrado said Headstrong is "open to opportunities" outside Metro Manila "if it is aligned with (our) plans."

Part of Headstrong's plans to grow its revenues is to acquire from two to three BPOs globally that will help the company expand its services.

Malhotra said Headstrong is on the lookout for a BPO to acquire which is offering knowledge process outsourcing.

Malhotra said that if one of these BPOs that they are considering for acquisition is outside Metro Manila, then that acquisition will bring them presence outside Metro Manila.

Data from the Commission on Higher Education showed that the bulk of human resources needed by the outsourcing industry is still in Metro Manila.

As of academic year 2004-2005, the NCR produced 92,249 graduates in the discipline engineering and technology, representing 28.68 percent of the total number of graduates that year. The NCR also produced 67,933 graduates in mathematics and computer science, representing 28.28 percent of the total.

But the outsourcing industry also hires graduates, or even college-level students, from other disciplines such as business, communication, and arts and sciences.

Earlier, a PeopleSupport Philippines top official said Metro Manila is still their preferred destination for expansion for the same reason of availability of human resources.

Rainerio M. Borja, PeopleSupport Philippines president, said last month that despite the saturation of call centers in Metro Manila, it still has the bulk of people they need for their dominantly voice business.

Unlike Headstrong which has its sole site in Makati City, PeopleSupport has other sites in Baguio City and Cebu City, and a training and recruitment office in Davao.

But PeopleSupport also has an "active list" of cities outside Metro Manila as potential sites for expansion. The list is active because the cities are assessed according to different weights which may change from time to time.

As a services industry, the outsourcing industry is heavily dependent on human resources, making the availability of human talents as one of the major considerations of BPOs when choosing a location.

Headstrong is also aware of the reality of the difficulty of getting enough people for their expansion plans but officials said they simply have to look for these people.

Bonnie Singh, Headstrong Global Head of Resource Management and Operations, said the company trains people for the kind of high-end outsourcing services that they offer. For instance, they train their employees to be certified financial analysts (CFAs). One of Headstrong's strengths is in banking, finance, and insurance services. -Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

Metro Manila still preferred location for BPOs

09/15/2008


MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila is still the preferred site of some business process outsourcing (BPO) firms because of its ample supply of talents badly needed by the industry.

In a press briefing, global IT consulting firm Headstrong said there are no immediate plans to open a site outside Metro Manila since the pool of human resources the company needs is still in the area.

Nora Terrado, country manager of Headstrong Philippines Inc, said the company is considering other sites outside Metro Manila but downplayed the possibility that opening a new site outside the National Capital Region will happen this year.

Headstrong's top brass announced last week that it is beefing up its capacity in the Philippines so that the operations can contribute to 15 percent of its projected revenue of $500 million globally by 2011. The revenue projection is more than double its current revenues of $200 million.

Arjun Malhotra, Headstrong chairman and chief executive officer, said the company is willing to invest some more in the Philippines after already putting in $18 million in the local operations so that the Manila Global Delivery Center based in Makati City can meet its revenues goals.

Part of the plan is to scale up the company’s workforce in the Philippines from the current 650 to 4,000 of the total 10,000 global Headstrong workforce by 2011.

Terrado was asked the possibility of opening sites outside Metro Manila since the government and the local industry group representing BPOs are identifying so-called next wave cities. These cities are alternative sites outside Metro Manila where BPOs can set up operations to decongest NCR and bring business and job opportunities to other cities.

Terrado said Headstrong is "open to opportunities" outside Metro Manila "if it is aligned with (our) plans."

Part of Headstrong's plans to grow its revenues is to acquire from two to three BPOs globally that will help the company expand its services.

Malhotra said Headstrong is on the lookout for a BPO to acquire which is offering knowledge process outsourcing.

Malhotra said that if one of these BPOs that they are considering for acquisition is outside Metro Manila, then that acquisition will bring them presence outside Metro Manila.

Data from the Commission on Higher Education showed that the bulk of human resources needed by the outsourcing industry is still in Metro Manila.

As of academic year 2004-2005, the NCR produced 92,249 graduates in the discipline engineering and technology, representing 28.68 percent of the total number of graduates that year. The NCR also produced 67,933 graduates in mathematics and computer science, representing 28.28 percent of the total.

But the outsourcing industry also hires graduates, or even college-level students, from other disciplines such as business, communication, and arts and sciences.

Earlier, a PeopleSupport Philippines top official said Metro Manila is still their preferred destination for expansion for the same reason of availability of human resources.

Rainerio M. Borja, PeopleSupport Philippines president, said last month that despite the saturation of call centers in Metro Manila, it still has the bulk of people they need for their dominantly voice business.

Unlike Headstrong which has its sole site in Makati City, PeopleSupport has other sites in Baguio City and Cebu City, and a training and recruitment office in Davao.

But PeopleSupport also has an "active list" of cities outside Metro Manila as potential sites for expansion. The list is active because the cities are assessed according to different weights which may change from time to time.

As a services industry, the outsourcing industry is heavily dependent on human resources, making the availability of human talents as one of the major considerations of BPOs when choosing a location.

Headstrong is also aware of the reality of the difficulty of getting enough people for their expansion plans but officials said they simply have to look for these people.

Bonnie Singh, Headstrong Global Head of Resource Management and Operations, said the company trains people for the kind of high-end outsourcing services that they offer. For instance, they train their employees to be certified financial analysts (CFAs). One of Headstrong's strengths is in banking, finance, and insurance services. -Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

Call center training firm expands in Bacolod

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:29:00 09/15/2008


MANILA, Philippines – Call center training firm ExcelAsia is looking at training around 300 "near-hires" a month in Bacolod City.

ExcelAsia recently opened an office in Bacolod City, its first expansion after setting up in Cebu and then Metro Manila.

The company provides free training for "near-hires" or applicants who did not pass initially but require remedial training to qualify for employment.

Rita Trillo-Ugarte, ExcelAsia founder and president, said the company's Bacolod site should be able to accommodate applicants in other cities in the South and outside of Cebu.

She is optimistic about getting trainees in Bacolod alone. TeleTech and Convergys -- among the largest call center operators in the country -- have recently expanded into Bacolod and both have hired agents trained by ExcelAsia.

Bacolod was identified by the Commission of Information and Communications (CICT) as one of the 20 "next-wave" cities ready to accommodate investments in the business process outsourcing sector.

According to Bacolod's local government, there are at least five operators located in the city. Aside from Teletech and Convergys, smaller operators Teleperformance, Intervoice and Focus Pacific Communications have also set up facilities in the city.

Trillo-Ugarte added ExcelAsia has plans of opening a training facility in Baguio City, which is north of Metro Manila, later this year.

ExcelAsia said it has trained and deployed more than 16,000 call center trainees since it began in 2005.

^^
thanks for the good news Jimbu.

here is ExcelAsia Bacolod...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2842973055_052c1123db.jpg
photo by Annie_May

Call center training firm expands in Bacolod


By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:29:00 09/15/2008


MANILA, Philippines – Call center training firm ExcelAsia is looking at training around 300 "near-hires" a month in Bacolod City.

ExcelAsia recently opened an office in Bacolod City, its first expansion after setting up in Cebu and then Metro Manila.

The company provides free training for "near-hires" or applicants who did not pass initially but require remedial training to qualify for employment.

Rita Trillo-Ugarte, ExcelAsia founder and president, said the company's Bacolod site should be able to accommodate applicants in other cities in the South and outside of Cebu.

She is optimistic about getting trainees in Bacolod alone. TeleTech and Convergys -- among the largest call center operators in the country -- have recently expanded into Bacolod and both have hired agents trained by ExcelAsia.

Bacolod was identified by the Commission of Information and Communications (CICT) as one of the 20 "next-wave" cities ready to accommodate investments in the business process outsourcing sector.

According to Bacolod's local government, there are at least five operators located in the city. Aside from Teletech and Convergys, smaller operators Teleperformance, Intervoice and Focus Pacific Communications have also set up facilities in the city.

Trillo-Ugarte added ExcelAsia has plans of opening a training facility in Baguio City, which is north of Metro Manila, later this year.

ExcelAsia said it has trained and deployed more than 16,000 call center trainees since it began in 2005.

so were the third to have excel asia center

^^
yup! manila, baguio, and bacolod

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w357/fly2bacolod/bacolod-1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2741478382_a5e1be126a.jpg?v=0

http://images.doi12.multiply.com/image/8/photos/114/500x500/17/P4253111.JPG?et=1nqGCjNQ%2Cptcp%2BxGFkRQ9Q&nmid=93630723
Convergys

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2762091581_9b96952802.jpg?v=0

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/teletech_call_cent_BACOLOD.jpg
Robinsons Cybergate [TeleTech]

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo250/bacolod_city/teleperformanceluxurplacebacolod.jpg

http://www.teleperformance.com/uploadedImages/USA/AboutUs/Nearshore/Offshore/Phillippines/Bacolod/Call%20Center%20Reception%20Desk.jpg
Teleperformance

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2842973055_052c1123db.jpg
ExcelAsia

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo250/bacolod_city/eblock.jpg
East Block

^^that was a very long proposal since 2005 pa together w/ Eventus-PLDT but now glad ExcelAsia comes a reality,,,i posted it from the bacolod thread 8

^^ lets include Tacloban....humahataw na rin yan...baka sa susunod bigla na lang dumami BPOs dyan :)

go pud Tacloban!

^^ lets include Tacloban....humahataw na rin yan...baka sa susunod bigla na lang dumami BPOs dyan :)

amu gud. haha. Teletech and APAC will be putting a branch here in Tacloban:banana:

amu gud. haha. Teletech and APAC will be putting a branch here in Tacloban:banana:

Oh, ayan na...Tacloban is starting to kick...Give it more time, at hahabol yan sa mga nauna... :banana::banana::banana:

Cheers to Visayas BPO... :cheers:

IT firm's subsidiary puts up regional training office (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121024/IT-firms-subsidiary-puts-up-regional-training-office#)

Article posted September 17, 2008 - 09:20 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The United States-based top provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) on Wednesday announced that it will set up its third regional training center in the Philippines through a subsidiary of listed company IPVG Corp.

In a press briefing, Salesfore.com officials said the Philippine training center will focus on customer relationship management (CRM) applications and Force.com platform which is a developer software delivered using the SaaS business model.

SaaS is a new business model where the software is offered as a service and not as a product. The customer avails of the service on a per-need or on-demand basis and over the internet. Advocates of this new business model claim that this is more cost-effective because the customer pays only for the service when it is needed.

Salesforce.com's third Asia Pacific training center will be housed in the offices of IP-Converge Data Center Inc, the data center subsidiary of IPVG, and authorized consulting partner of Salesforce.com.

The Philippine training center will be an alternative to other regional training sites in Hong Kong and Singapore, Salesforce.com said.

Salesforce.com and IP-Converge officials said setting up of the training center was necessitated by demand for the new business model in the Philippines and in the region.

"The Regional Training Center is being established due to the large customer demand as more and more companies turn to on-demand, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications and subscription-based models to drive business growth and achieve operational efficiency," Salesforce.com said in a statement.

"As salesforce.com becomes more prevalent in the region, we made sure that we have personnel equipped with the right tools to make us the practical destination for Salesforce.com training," said Reynaldo Huergas, president and chief operating officer of IP-Converge. GMANews.TV

RP's IPVG partners with Canadian firm (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/105861/RPs-IPVG-partners-with-Canadian-firm#)

Article posted July 09, 2008 - 03:35 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Listed information technology company IPVG Corp. has partnered with Ontario-based outsourcing firm Gemma Communications LP (GemmaCom), where both will jointly provide outsourcing services to clients based in Canada.

Both will also provide customer support functions to clients of GemmaCom that have offshore outsourcing requirements.

GemmaCom will be responsible for marketing, quality assurance and infrastructure, while IPVG will provide call center outsourcing services through business process outsourcing (BPO) subsidiary IP Contact Center Outsourcing, Inc.

"After completing a multi-continent review of possible offshore locations and partnerships, we believe that our decision to go to the Philippines and team up with IPVG ideally positions GemmaCom to provide our clients with exceptional value," GemmaCom President Craig Meilleur said in a statement.

The migration of service offerings from both companies will create a complement of voice and nonvoice service such as inbound customer service, technical support, and sales and marketing; and outbound sales and marketing, surveys and loyalty programs.

GemmaCom has 1,000 seats and operates three call center facilities in Canada located in Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec.

GemmaCom is the third international investment agreement in IPVG’s BPO platform following a deal with Credence Analytics in India and the acquisition of US-based call center Influent. - BusinessWorld


All Rights Reserved. 2006 © GMA Network Inc.

something's wrong with the site. i keep seeing double posts :D

BPO sector eyes big investments from banking & finance industry
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Thursday, September 18, 2008


The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is expecting big investments from the banking and finance sector as the BPO sector branches out from the usual call center activities.

“Right now the trend is more investments from the banking and finance. It is a captive sector,” Oscar Sanez, Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) president said in an interview.

“A big part of the industry is made up of call centers. The plan now is to move into more specialized high value operations,” Sanez said.

Today, the BPAP will be presenting the global investment outlook for the outsourcing industry in the emerging markets.

Meanwhile, the industry is on track to meeting its year-end growth target as it employed 345,000 workers during the first half of the year.

“The industry employed 345,000 workers for the first six months of the year and we are hoping that we will meet our yearend target of 420,000,” Sanez said.

The offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) industry earned $5.8 billion during the first half of the year.

“We are on track to meet our full year revenue target of $6.8 billion,” Sanez said.

According to Sanez, O&O revenue for the first six months of the year is up 1.8 percent when compared to the same period the previous year.

Sanez said the slowdown in the world economy had no adverse effects on the industry. “The first half results are encouraging. I think we will meet our target stated in the 2010 roadmap.”

Sanez noted that the Philippines ranked third in the O&O industry. India remained number one, followed by Canada.

The Philippines is a good location for outsourcing because of the time zone.

However, Sanez said the problem of skilled workers may pose as a threat. “We are really doing our best to address this issue.”

Likewise, foreign businessmen have said that the problem of education has had a negative impact on the number of qualified workers available.

In fact, the education problem in the country will have an adverse effect on the investment behavior of businesses, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) executive Henry Schumacher said.

“We (businesses) can’t wait (for the government to implement reforms). The jobs will have gone somewhere else,” Schumacher warned.

He said if the private sector will wait for the government to solve the education problem then it will be too late. The country’s ASEAN neighbors, specifically Vietnam , are actively attracting foreign investors and are giving attractive packages for businesses in order to set up shop in their respective countries

Friday, September 19, 2008
BPO industry needs more ICT graduates

WITH the Philippine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry growing by 30 to 35 percent annually and a projection of 1 million jobs generated by 2010, key players in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and academe are pushing for a comprehensive and sustainable training program that will develop Mindanao's human resources on information, communication technology (ICT.

"We need to let the public know the positive economic impact the BPO sector has already gained, and the untapped opportunities that the ICT industry has to offer particularly in creating more jobs and ICT-related businesses," said Wit Holganza, president of the ICT Davao, Inc. during the first ever BPO Human Resource and Recruitment Forum held last month.

Get updates and join Dabawenyos Kadayawan 2008 celebration

She said the forum, which gathered BPO experts and HR practitioners from local schools and training institutions, is a good start to prepare the human resource pool to acquire skills that will serve the requirements of the BPO industry players.

The supply of qualified ICT-skilled workers is an increasing concern as the industry needs more
ICT graduates with the ICT industry poised for upbeat growth in the next years.

Ditas Formoso, head of the Technical Committee on Government Academe Industry Linkage (TC-Gail) said that the talent pool is growing at a rate of only 10 percent while the industry grows 30-35 percent annually.

In her presentation, she explained that faculty development, industry immersion for students, appropriate school infrastructure and industry-based curricula are factors that make up a talent pool required by the industry.

The TC-Gail will embark on advocacy and awareness programs to gain industry, academe and local
government support for the faculty immersion programs they will be pilot-testing.

She also encouraged academic institutions to participate as this will benefit both graduates and faculty.

Jamea Garcia, Talent Development Director of the Business Processing Association of the
Philippines (BPAP) said in her presentation that the supply of talent will determine the level of growth the industry will experience.

She said that a comprehensive assessment and training program must be developed to help improve suitability of talent for the industry.

In a recent article, she said investing in training of human resources is a challenge for stakeholders "in order to supply the quality of talent which will also propel improvements in the industry."

She said aside from generating 1 million jobs by 2010, it is also projected to generate 1.2 to 1.3 million indirect jobs.

The forum was organized by the ICT Davao, an umbrella organization of different ICT industry associations. The group is planning to develop a databank which will determine Davao's human resources pool and its capacity to respond to the needs of prospective locators.

The three-day forum also matched teachers and guidance counselors of schools with HR and recruitment staff of BPO companies on a two-day job fair to allow schools firsthand experience in human resource and recruitment processes which can become a benchmark for schools in improving their curriculum particularly in English proficiency and other ICT-related skills.

A career employment track was organized to focus on career opportunities in the different BPO fields which include the contact center, medical transcription, and graphics and animation.

On the other hand, the technopreneurship track oriented the participants of opportunities in engaging in ICT start-up businesses.

The Davao Business Plan Competition was also launched during the forum to encourage young ICT entrepreneurs to submit business start-up proposals.

Sun-Star (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/09/19/bus/bpo.industry.needs.more.ict.graduates.html)

Lower rent makes provincial cities attractive to call centers (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121504/Lower-rent-makes-provincial-cities-attractive-to-call-centers)
09/19/2008 | 04:52 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that plan to put up new offices remain attracted to locations outside Metro Manila due to lower rental costs, an international property consultant noted recently.

But an official of CB Richard Ellis also noted that these BPOs are also looking to tap the human resource pool in other urban centers.

Speaking at an international services conference recently, CBRE Philippines Vice Chairman Joey Radovan said the outlook for the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, and Naga are promising.

Prospects for so-called Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in the next two years are also promising.

“BPO companies that have been in the country for three to four years are looking at the provinces to leverage the large labor pools in these areas and to leverage the benefits of lower rates for office space and operating costs," said Radovan.

For this year alone, Radovan said 23 of the 34 projects scheduled for completion by the end of 2008 are located outside the Makati and Ortigas central business districts where many of the BPOs are currently located.

Lease rates in the Makati and Ortigas CBDs range from P850 to P950 per square meter, said Radovan while rates in Cebu range from P330 to P450 per square meter, and Bacolod from P220 to P250 per square meter.

Makati and Ortigas CBDs are what CBRE refers to as Tier 1 cities. These cities are equipped with adequate infrastructure, such as telecommunications, roads, accommodations.

Tier 2 and 3 locations such as Laoag, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tuguegarao, Kalibo, Legaspi, Roxas, Butuan, Puerto Princesa, Dipolog, Cotabato, and General Santos City further south will benefit from expansion of the offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) industry, added Radovan.

Prospects for the O&O industry are not yet dimming totally despite the current financial crisis among top banks in the United States.
Rainerio M. Borja, president of US-headquartered PeopleSupport Philippines, told GMANews on Thursday that while the current US crisis will have an impact on some BPOs in the country, the local industry might also consider the crisis as an opportunity.

A number of US companies may consider offshoring some of their requirements to the Philippines, he explained, owing to the subprime crisis.

Borja said nevertheless that the situation will eventually stabilize.

Karen Batungbacal, president of ICT Group, said in an industry forum on Thursday that it is up to the local BPOs to grab these business opportunities at a time of crisis in the US.

Radovan said these alternate sites are giving BPOs more choices in office spaces. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

May i ask? How hard to work in this kind of Profession? anyone could clarify and give some info regarding this king of work...

May i ask? How hard to work in this kind of Profession? anyone could clarify and give some info regarding this king of work...

call center?

have you tried calling PLDT, Meralco etc.. with you complaining, bursting in anger?


baliktarin natin
imagine ikaw yung nasa PLDT call center, ikaw ang sumasagot sa tawag:D 99%(akin lang to hindi totoo:D) ata galit ang customers tumatawag doon eh:D

ganyan kahirap:lol:

call center?

have you tried calling PLDT, Meralco etc.. with you complaining, bursting in anger?


baliktarin natin
imagine ikaw yung nasa PLDT call center, ikaw ang sumasagot sa tawag:D 99%(akin lang to hindi totoo:D) ata galit ang customers tumatawag doon eh:D

ganyan kahirap:lol:

Hindi naman. Pag nasa technical account ka, like mine, hindi naman 99%. Pag nasa fraud, customer service or financial account ka, malamang-lamang siguro puro irate callers mo. Pero ako, hindi pa naman ako namura. :D

^^ siguradong galit dahil kadalasan ang mga tao hindi naman tatawag kung walang reklamo. at alam mo naman ang pinoy kapag konti lang ang problema hindi pa tatawag yun pero kapag malala na at hindi na nila mapigil ang pagkapikon nila saka pa sila tatawag.

Saturday, September 20, 2008
BPO firm finds Iloilo lucrative for business (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2008/09/20/bus/bpo.firm.finds.iloilo.lucrative.for.business.html)

A BUSINESS process outsourcing firm that established its call center in Iloilo City only late last year has find sunshine in the internet technology and vowed to stay in Iloilo.

Patrick Thibeault, site director of call center giant TeleTech, said their business is prospering at a fast pace. From 800 seats when they started in Iloilo, TeleTech now has 1,100 employees and would be expanding to 1,400 before the year ends.

Thibeault, a Canadian citizen, said call centers are willing to stay in the country due to good responses from clients abroad. The Filipino diction is perfect and Iloilo has good quality English speaking population.

TeleTech is hiring most of its employees who are graduates of Iloilo schools. The city has six universities, more than 30 colleges and technical schools graduating more than 17,000 students every year.

The Ilonggo graduates have a competitive advantage and time will come that graduates will not look jobs abroad anymore since good paying jobs are right here now, Thibeault said.

Regarding the insufficient power supply in Iloilo, Thibeault said there is no problem since their call center has its own generator sets to power their call center system 24 hours a day.

Aside from the Philippines, TeleTech is operating in Canada, Australia, Argentina, Mexico and Costa Rica. This year, more than 60 employees in the Philippines will be promoted to supervisory and managerial positions and be posted to other countries. Current employees are now being trained to take over the top positions in the country. (Lydia C. Pendon)

heres cebu's

JUST THIS YEAR(2008)..

Skyrise 3(part), i3 with i2, TGU and The Walk...
bonus: (Waterfront Hotel and Casino background)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2852520789_0343d3b114.jpg?v=0

Skyrise 2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2852509267_5148f678db.jpg?v=0

eBloc
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2852509259_db59c56d00.jpg?v=0

i3 and i2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2852521319_103af68cea.jpg?v=0

The Walk
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2852509251_d5b708d6a0.jpg?v=0

Skyrise 3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2853336530_1a47702f79.jpg?v=0

Skyrise 1, 2, 3 and eBloc
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2853336540_9fc76f212c.jpg?v=0

i1(part), i3 and i2(part)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2853336532_b02e398cd8.jpg?v=0

200,000 for Call Centers
Written by Michin

Call Center industry is now growing every year. Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) now employs 200,000 workers.

Moreover, through improved telecommunications infrastructure and a ready pool of English-speaking college graduates. For those reasons, investments are attracted. And that lead to vast increase of demands for workers.

CCAP also noted operators present in Cebu, Bacolod, Muntinlupa, Manila, Baguio, Laguna, Batangas, Taguig, Pasay, Paranaque, Marikina, Rizal, Cavite, Angeles and Dumaguete.

Furthermore, Philippines is a good and conducive place in offshoring clients for call center. Australia, UK and New Zealand are now supporting the call center industry in the Philippines. [via]

:cheers:

@pinoymeat, ganyan ba talaga ang building? medyo slant siya? but i must say na ang ganda talaga ng IT park ng Cebu :) Saw it when i was there.... nung una dyan ang location ng the village diba?

How much does a starter call center agent earn in a month in Cebu, Bacolod and Dumaguete?

What is the difference between a call center agent and a medical transcriptionist?

How much is the difference in their salaries?

Thursday, September 18, 2008
Davao Call Center Hiring Agents
A Davao City call center is in need of Call Center Agents and other call center employees for their expansion. Skilled agents an earn between P10,000 to 20,000. If you are interested in this industry then you can avail of this work opportunity even without experience. Also avail of the company's new training program,.

Vacancies:

Call Center Agents
Outbound Campaign Team Leaders
Outbound Campaign Manager
Outbound Campaign Confirmers
Benefits:

Weekly Payment of Salary
Weekly Bonus
Daily Payment of SFIS


Work for Hire (http://workforhire.blogspot.com/2008/09/davao-call-center-hiring-agents.html)

@pinoymeat, ganyan ba talaga ang building? medyo slant siya? but i must say na ang ganda talaga ng IT park ng Cebu :) Saw it when i was there.... nung una dyan ang location ng the village diba?

Bitaw, slant diay siya...? Ngano man..? Sa yuta na niya or sa design jud ka building..? XD

How much does a starter call center agent earn in a month in Cebu, Bacolod and Dumaguete?

What is the difference between a call center agent and a medical transcriptionist?

How much is the difference in their salaries?

paging CCP, kindly answer this one :)

sir saan tong corporate tower nila? toh ba yung meh malaking building near sa agdao flyover?

Can we rename this thread to Davao City's IT Industry instead? The thread talks about the ICT industry in the city ;)

hmm...maybe because that's the booming industry. pero para mas encompassing, let's keep it that way. what do you guys think? :)

^^ Kc if we'll keep the new name of the thread which is "Davao City Business and Industry", we are discussing of which industry? Eh ang daming industries sa Davao: agriculture, ICT, mining, service, real estate, tourism, etc. But sa current thread na to, ICT industry and pinaguusapan diba? :dunno:

mostly, but not 100% Jech. I went on to read few pages back and I can posts about food and agri, retail and real estate topics posted. or shall i remove them so we can rename the thread?

edit: it was you who started the thread. would you want us to review the title and exclude the non ICT related ones? visayas section has an ICT-related thread for the whole region. what do you think about having one for the whole Mindanao?

^^ Hmmmmmm....Mindanao ICT Thread? Ok lang...pero kinda unfair sa ibang cities coz most of the posts made were about Davao's ICT industry. Cant we just rename it to Davao ICT Industry instead? That's the main purpose of this subthread when it was created.

^^ agree ako jech we can discuss other industries in Davao Thread or in Davao Region.

ok, that's what i'm waiting. a concurrence from somebody else. so we'll rename it into Davao ICT Industry Thread.

^^ haha kailangan pa pala ako ....thanks kiko :okay:

@pinoymeat, ganyan ba talaga ang building? medyo slant siya? but i must say na ang ganda talaga ng IT park ng Cebu :) Saw it when i was there.... nung una dyan ang location ng the village diba?

Bitaw, slant diay siya...? Ngano man..? Sa yuta na niya or sa design jud ka building..? XD

yes, that building is slanted, design yan, we call it the leaning tower of IT park :lol:

^^ thats cute :) kaya naman pala...hahahaha

Yes, the BPO is really thriving in the Visayas. The best is part is that it also spurs the creation and development of sub or micro economies brought by the BPOs/KPOs. I'm talking about the "home based business and knowledge process outsourcing".

I am filmmaker and with gained creative knowledge I was able to put up a home based graphics business serving clients from Britain, Australia and the USA. They prefer us because we are far more cost effective to deal with than those companies with corporate structures. Of course, with this set-up I'm helping the local economy because I have employed about 4 people who are paid in the same salary grade with those established call centers. Also, the influx of dollars helps our country's dollar reserve.

Australian collections firm to operate in Manila soon

NATIONAL Receivables Group, an Australian-owned Debt Management Agency which services national and international corporations in banking and finance, telecommunications and insurance industries, will soon operate in the Philippines.

Out of the many possible locations, National Receivables chose the Philippines because of the quality of talents and facilities that are available to international companies expanding offshore, the company said in a statement.

Its decision to set up operations in the Philippines is in line with the company’s expansion efforts to provide better service to its clients in banking and finance.

National Receivables’ network provides clients services for debt collection and management that are tailor-fit to their specific needs.

“National Receivables immediately decided on the Philippines as the location of its expansion, after we had the opportunity to visit the country. The facilities are great, the people we met shared the same philosophies and values as National Receivables,” said Michelle Bubke, CEO of National Receivables and is also a Women in Business awardee.

“Of all the locations we considered, the Philippines offered superior talent pool. The lifestyle and time zone are also an advantage in our operations,” she added. Bubke was attending a Business Processing Association conference in Sydney, Australia, when an opportunity to visit the Philippines came. During her visit to the country, Bubke met with executives of young and expanding companies enjoying success in the Philippines.

To jump-start company operations, Bubke was recently in Manila to train her new agent at National Receivables’ international call center in IBM Building, Eastwood City.

National Receivables plans to have 600 agents onboard in the next 18 months, the company said.

call center?

have you tried calling PLDT, Meralco etc.. with you complaining, bursting in anger?


baliktarin natin
imagine ikaw yung nasa PLDT call center, ikaw ang sumasagot sa tawag:D 99%(akin lang to hindi totoo:D) ata galit ang customers tumatawag doon eh:D

ganyan kahirap:lol:

ahhh i see pero di ko pa na itry tumawag sa PLDT or Meralco sa mismong pag nasusukat ng metro yung meralco kame nag bubunganga para harapan! :lol:

Ayala Corp, Providence Equity acquire eTelecare for $290 M
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. and US-based investment firm Providence Equity Partners Inc. have put together an offer to buy out business process outsourcing (BPO) eTelecare Global Solutions Inc. for $290 million.

eTelecare’s board has unanimously approved the offer, which also includes the acquisition of all outstanding eTelecare American Depositary Shares for $9 cash per share.

The offer price represents a 76 percent premium over eTelecare’s closing price on Nasdaq on Sept. 18. Ayala Corp., through its BPO investment arm LiveIt Solutions Inc. already owns a 22 percent stake in eTelecare, which is based in the Philippines but maintains executive headquarters in North Scottsdale, Arizona.

In order for the deal to be carried out, Ayala Corp. and Providence must get the approval of shareholders owning at least two thirds of eTelecare’s shares and ADRs, as well as regulatory authorities.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, investment holding company A. Soriano Corp. (Anscor) said it has agreed to be bought out in eTelecare. It owns 1.8 million common shares equivalent to about six percent of eTelecare’s outstanding shares. Upon successful completion of the sale of its shareholdings, Anscor intends to declare a special cash dividend of P0.10 per share.

“Our further investment demonstrates our confidence in the management team and 13,000-plus members of the eTelecare family. Together with our partner Providence, the leading private equity investor in the telecom and media sectors, we will be backing the company as it continues to deliver world class service to its clients,” LiveIt chief executive officer Fred Ayala said.

eTelecare chairman Gary Fernandes, for his part, said the transaction “allows eTelecare’s shareholders to realize significant value from their investment in eTelecare in a timely manner.”

“The company’s acquisition by Ayala Corp. and Providence will also enhance the company’s ability to serve its valued customers. With access to their substantial intellectual and capital resources, the company will be well positioned to expand its role as a leader in the BPO marketplace,” Fernandes said.

Japanese investors eye call center in Silay City

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:53:00 09/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A group of Japanese investors are looking at setting up call centers in Silay City in Negros Occidental province, a local official told INQUIRER.net.

A report from outsourcing research firm Callcentres.net said a group of Japanese investors from partner firms Masterpiece Group and local partner Nomura Securities Philippines recently met with Mayor Jose Montelibano to discuss their intent to invest in Silay.

The proposed call centers would cater to Japanese, Chinese and English-speaking clients, the report said.

City councilor Mike Maravilla confirmed via telephone the meeting with Japanese investors, although he noted that plans are yet to be finalized.

Silay is categorized as a second-class city and is located north of the provincial capital of Bacolod. It is also the site of the new Bacolod-Silay International airport.

Maravilla said an area near the new airport is being developed as an investment site for IT-related industries and has a pending application with PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) to become an economic zone.

"Our thrust is to attract IT-related investments but we need to have adequate infrastructure first. Once approved, telcos have already committed to improve connectivity in Silay," Maravilla said.

A number of call center operators, including Convergys and Teletech, have already set up in Bacolod.

Arroyo to inaugurate
Convergys in Bacolod
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will formally inaugurate Convergys in Bacolod City on October 1.

He said he and the rest of the city officials are also very elated that the president has accepted their invitation to declare the 29th MassKara Festival open on the same day.

“We feel this is a validation of our belief that the MassKara Festival is recognized by the President because it has become an identity for Bacolod and is one of the major tourism attractions of the Philippines today,” he said.

This development will give MassKara a wide coverage in terms of media exposure, he said, adding that the presence of the President itself is already a media event.

Leonardia said the President has placed Information Technology among her priorities.

On the part of Bacolod it is very gratifying since Convergys, which is one of the biggest, if not the biggest companies in the Philippines today, has opened in Bacolod inspite of the presence of other giants like Teleperformance and TeleTech, he said.

Leonardia said that during the tour of the Mayors’ League, Convergys country manager Ma. Fe Zamora told them that there are still good call center materials in Bacolod who are presently being accommodated by their company.

From 700 to 1,000 employees, they intend to expand from 1,800 to 2,000 in the coming months, she said.

Zamora said that from all over the Philippines, it is in Bacolod where they have the highest rate of passing, compared to other cities, Leonardia added. “I think that speaks well of our people and that should encourage us to further develop our potentials here,” he said.

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod recently passed Resolution 698 requesting Arroyo to issue a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 20 as a non-working holiday in Bacolod City.

This was based on the mayor’s request considering that the 70th Charter Anniversary of Bacolod, falls on a Sunday.

The 2008 MassKara Festival will revolve around the theme, “Bacolod, City of the World.”

Councilor Homer Bais, chairman of the Committee on Tourism, said 22 barangays and 10 schools are participating in the MassKara Streedance competition on October 16, 17 and 18.

He said each barangay will receive a budget of P100,000 from the city government and each school will receive P60,000.

Bais said 10 barangays will join the Electric MassKara on October 17-19 while the countdown to the Charter Day on October 18 will be simultaneously held at Araneta and Lacson streets.

Leonardia said that, because of the success of the first staging of the Electric MassKara last year, they will hold another this year.

Bais said that about 80 percent of the establishments along Lacson Street support the Electric MassKara event. He said added attractions include private vehicles staging a “sound off” along Lacson Street.

Leonardia said “Considering the success of the activity at Lacson Street, which we may now call the Tourism Strip of Bacolod, I am sure we will do better this year.”*CGS

Arroyo to inaugurate
Convergys in Bacolod
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will formally inaugurate Convergys in Bacolod City on October 1.

He said he and the rest of the city officials are also very elated that the president has accepted their invitation to declare the 29th MassKara Festival open on the same day.

“We feel this is a validation of our belief that the MassKara Festival is recognized by the President because it has become an identity for Bacolod and is one of the major tourism attractions of the Philippines today,” he said.

This development will give MassKara a wide coverage in terms of media exposure, he said, adding that the presence of the President itself is already a media event.

Leonardia said the President has placed Information Technology among her priorities.

On the part of Bacolod it is very gratifying since Convergys, which is one of the biggest, if not the biggest companies in the Philippines today, has opened in Bacolod inspite of the presence of other giants like Teleperformance and TeleTech, he said.

Leonardia said that during the tour of the Mayors’ League, Convergys country manager Ma. Fe Zamora told them that there are still good call center materials in Bacolod who are presently being accommodated by their company.

From 700 to 1,000 employees, they intend to expand from 1,800 to 2,000 in the coming months, she said.

Zamora said that from all over the Philippines, it is in Bacolod where they have the highest rate of passing, compared to other cities, Leonardia added. “I think that speaks well of our people and that should encourage us to further develop our potentials here,” he said.

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod recently passed Resolution 698 requesting Arroyo to issue a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 20 as a non-working holiday in Bacolod City.

This was based on the mayor’s request considering that the 70th Charter Anniversary of Bacolod, falls on a Sunday.

The 2008 MassKara Festival will revolve around the theme, “Bacolod, City of the World.”

Councilor Homer Bais, chairman of the Committee on Tourism, said 22 barangays and 10 schools are participating in the MassKara Streedance competition on October 16, 17 and 18.

He said each barangay will receive a budget of P100,000 from the city government and each school will receive P60,000.

Bais said 10 barangays will join the Electric MassKara on October 17-19 while the countdown to the Charter Day on October 18 will be simultaneously held at Araneta and Lacson streets.

Leonardia said that, because of the success of the first staging of the Electric MassKara last year, they will hold another this year.

Bais said that about 80 percent of the establishments along Lacson Street support the Electric MassKara event. He said added attractions include private vehicles staging a “sound off” along Lacson Street.

Leonardia said “Considering the success of the activity at Lacson Street, which we may now call the Tourism Strip of Bacolod, I am sure we will do better this year.”*CGS

Cheap rent attracts BPOs to Cebu


CEBU CITY — Cebu is fast becoming a preferred destination of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies due mainly to the competitive office space rates offered by owners of commercial buildings in the city.


"The situation of demand and supply of office spaces in Cebu is balanced. After completion of buildings, there are immediate take-ups. With the projected additional supply of office spaces, roughly from 40 to 50 percent are already taken up," said Ieyo de Guzman, Colliers International-Philippines (CIP) director for investment sales.

CIP develops a regular database that covers all sectors of the Philippine real estate market, identifying long-term trends for the benefit of its developer-clients.

"The fast take-up is due to the competitive rent rates," De Guzman said in an interview.

"Lately, though, they would look at Manila, check the rates there, and say ‘Forget Manila, we want to go to Cebu.’ This has been the trend," she said.

Based on a property market study of the Philippines conducted by CIP, De Guzman said, the monthly rent is between P800 and P1,100 per square meter for grade A office space, while prime areas are set above P1,100 per square meter per month.

Collier’s Cebu Market Property Overview noted that last year the office lease rate in Cebu City was at an average of P313 square meter (sqm) per month.

The same market study also showed that Cebu had an estimated 180,000 square meters of office accommodation in 2007, De Guzman said.

This year, Colliers projected an additional supply of 160,000 square meters catering mostly to BPO firms and other information-technology companies.

"The supply-and-demand situation for office spaces in Cebu is still on the normal level. It is a good indication of how realistic the projection of the developers here," said De Guzman.

De Guzman said Cebu, being the melting pot of economic activities in the Visayas, is attractive to BPO firms because of its ready manpower pool, established universities, cheap operation cost, and abundant supply of support amenities for lifestyle and relaxation.

"The lease rates in Cebu have made a plateau level, which is a good thing because it won’t scare BPOs. However, if Cebu’s rates catch up with those of Manila, potential investors would look at emerging competitive sites," she said.

However, the emerging sites -- such as Bacolod, Dumaguete, Leyte, among others -- need to be developed into a more investor-friendly hub complete with capital-intensive telecommunications infrastructure as well as significant supply of labor pool coming from the colleges and universities, De Guzman added.

Lower rent makes provincial cities attractive to call centers09/19/2008 | 04:52 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that plan to put up new offices remain attracted to locations outside Metro Manila due to lower rental costs, an international property consultant noted recently.

But an official of CB Richard Ellis also noted that these BPOs are also looking to tap the human resource pool in other urban centers.

Speaking at an international services conference recently, CBRE Philippines Vice Chairman Joey Radovan said the outlook for the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, and Naga are promising.

Prospects for so-called Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in the next two years are also promising.

“BPO companies that have been in the country for three to four years are looking at the provinces to leverage the large labor pools in these areas and to leverage the benefits of lower rates for office space and operating costs," said Radovan.

For this year alone, Radovan said 23 of the 34 projects scheduled for completion by the end of 2008 are located outside the Makati and Ortigas central business districts where many of the BPOs are currently located.

Lease rates in the Makati and Ortigas CBDs range from P850 to P950 per square meter, said Radovan while rates in Cebu range from P330 to P450 per square meter, and Bacolod from P220 to P250 per square meter.

Makati and Ortigas CBDs are what CBRE refers to as Tier 1 cities. These cities are equipped with adequate infrastructure, such as telecommunications, roads, accommodations.

Tier 2 and 3 locations such as Laoag, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tuguegarao, Kalibo, Legaspi, Roxas, Butuan, Puerto Princesa, Dipolog, Cotabato, and General Santos City further south will benefit from expansion of the offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) industry, added Radovan.

Prospects for the O&O industry are not yet dimming totally despite the current financial crisis among top banks in the United States.
Rainerio M. Borja, president of US-headquartered PeopleSupport Philippines, told GMANews on Thursday that while the current US crisis will have an impact on some BPOs in the country, the local industry might also consider the crisis as an opportunity.

A number of US companies may consider offshoring some of their requirements to the Philippines, he explained, owing to the subprime crisis.

Borja said nevertheless that the situation will eventually stabilize.

Karen Batungbacal, president of ICT Group, said in an industry forum on Thursday that it is up to the local BPOs to grab these business opportunities at a time of crisis in the US.

Radovan said these alternate sites are giving BPOs more choices in office spaces. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

whats BPO ba? how about KPO, all i know is callboy, anyone?

Ayala offers to buy out eTelecare minority owners (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080923-162288/Ayala-offers-to-buy-out-eTelecare-minority-owners)

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:56:00 09/23/2008

Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp. and US private equity firm Providence Equity Partners are pushing to take over Nasdaq-listed business process outsourcing (BPO) giant eTelecare Global Solutions through a buyout offer to minority shareholders for $290 million.

eTelecare said in a disclosure to the Nasdaq that it had entered into a definitive agreement in which affiliates of Ayala and Providence Equity would start a tender offer to minority stakeholders in the Philippines and the United States to acquire up to all of its outstanding common shares and up to all of the outstanding eTelecare American Depositary Shares for $9 a share in cash.

The offer price represents a 76-percent premium over the company’s closing price on Nasdaq on Sept.18.

Ayala, which has a 22-percent stake in eTelecare, will participate in the transaction through LiveIt Investments Ltd., the holding company for Ayala’s investments in the BPO sector.

Completion of the tender offer will be subject to the condition that at least 66.67 percent of eTelecare shares and American Depositary shares are tendered in the offer and other regulatory approvals.

A. Soriano Corp., which has a six-percent stake in eTelecare, said in a disclosure that it had agreed to sell its stake for $17 million.

Providence Equity Partners, based in Rhode Island, is the leading global private equity firm specializing in equity investments in the media, entertainment, communications and information technology companies worldwide.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080923-162288/Ayala-offers-to-buy-out-eTelecare-minority-owners

DAVAO CITY — The Ayala group is having difficulty convincing US companies to locate their operations at its planned business process outsourcing (BPO) building here given travel advisories issued by foreign embassies.

Marivic E. Añonuevo, senior vice-president and group head of the Ayala Malls Group, said the American principals of BPO locators are wary of even paying them a visit because of the travel warnings on Mindanao. "There is still the challenge of convincing people to come and invest with us," she told BusinessWorld.

The Ayala group is building a P2.3-billion BPO complex that will have a floor area of 20,000 square meters. The BPO building will have five levels with 10,000 square meters allocated for call center operations.

Construction of the building will start next year and will be completed by 2012. The centerpiece of the project, Ayala Center Davao, is expected to open in two years. "People have come and see with their own eyes how peaceful it is here. There are also testimonials from those who have located here," she added.

Ms. Añonuevo cited studies claiming that Davao City has a substantive A, B and C markets that make up a fifth of its population, higher than Cebu’s 16%.

In terms of talent pool, the Business Process Association of the Philippines has recognized Davao City’s potential for second-tier cities, ranking only next to Cebu. Ms. Añonuevo said they are unfazed by the Gokongweis’ plan to set up a Robinsons shopping mall and the Sys’ similar intent to build an SM mall near the Ayala Center here. A market research and competitive studies they conducted, she said, showed a gap in the supply and demand in the Davao commercial sector.

In the late 1980s, the Ayala group tried to buy the Lanang Golf Course owned by the Dakudao family, some four kilometers from its Abreeza project. About 10 hectares of the golf course were reportedly acquired two months ago by taipan Henry Sy for the SM Davao North project, construction of which has not been announced.

"We also like to bring in our established local and international merchants in Manila, [so they can] invest in Davao," she said. The Ayala project is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs, while the BPOs will generate 3,000 more jobs. During the construction phase, 3,000 local workers are expected to be hired. — Joel V. Escovilla

whats BPO ba? how about KPO, all i know is callboy, anyone?

AFAIK......

BPO - eto yung callcenter operations and any simple business processes that provide support sa clients (voice support, email, chat, medical transcription, captioning, data entry, etc).

KPO - or Knowledge Process Outsourcing, eto yung higher form ng BPO and requires specialized skills. KPO is more like a challenge as it demands advanced and expertise skills on part of its employees. For instance, in a financial service BPO, data entry of invoices has been around for some time. Now, international companies are thinking, why not broaden the scope to include financial analysis?" Hence, now enters..KPO. :D

A repost from Iloilo thread:

4-storey IT park to rise in Iloilo City

http://thedailyguardian.com/images/stories/0924_frnt.jpg
GROWTH ZONE - An IT park will rise on Benigno Aquino Avenue, popularly known as Diversion Road, in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, an indication that the city is an attractive destination for BPO investors. (Photo by Tara Yap)
By Jeehan V. Fernandez

A FOUR-STOREY Information Technology (IT) park which will host business process outsourcing (BPO) businesses will rise along Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City and will be operational next year.

The BPO industry includes call centers, medical and legal transcriptions, software development, office works, architecture and animation using state-of-the-art computer technology.

Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday revealed the plan of a Manila-based giant property developer that will build the BPO building at a 5,000-square meter site along Diversion Road. Though Treñas said he is not at liberty yet to disclose the name of the investor.

“It’s a very good development considering we lack infrastructure for BPO companies. The proposed building has template for BPOs. It will answer the need for BPO spaces,” he explained.

The BPO building will be composed of 2,500-sq m floor space or a total of 10,000- sq m for its four floors.

The mayor earlier stressed the city needs to prepare more IT parks ready for prospective call center locators to settle in.

He encouraged the private sector to establish IT parks to accommodate call center companies eyeing to expand operations in the metropolis.

Treñas pointed out the big pool of quality graduates in Iloilo who could provide the human resources requirement of BPO firms.

“There should be ready IT buildings. Existing commercial buildings should be improved to be readily available. We lag behind Bacolod City because they have more spaces,” he said.

He also pushed owners of existing buildings to apply for IT park accreditation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) which grants tax incentives to investors. The City Government is very much willing to help establishments secure their Peza accreditation, he added. In fact, the City Council has approved a resolution endorsing the Peza application.

“Personally, I will follow it up with Peza and Malacañang because the accreditation of IT park needs a Presidential Proclamation,” said Treñas.

The city already hosts three Peza-accredited IT parks including Amigo Building, SM City and Robinsons’ Place. Gaisano City is also applying for the same accreditation.

source: The Daily GUardian ILOILO (http://thedailyguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9619&Itemid=31)

2 BPO Buildings by Ayala Land

1st BPO Building - 10,000 sqm (5 floors)
2nd BPO Building - 8,000 sqm

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk97/tj_brewed2/abreezaspecs.jpg

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ayala pours P4-B investments in Davao (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/09/24/ayala.pours.p4.b.investments.in.davao.html)

DAVAO CITY -- Ayala Land Inc. will invest P4 billion in Davao City for the development of a BPO facility, shopping mall, residential and commercial lots and a hotel in a 10-hectare property.

The new investments will be constructed in the sprawling 10-hectare property owned by the Floirendos on JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada in the next three years.

The ambitious mixed-use development project, called the Abreeza, is a joint venture between ALI and the Davao City-based Antonio Floirendo Corp. (Anflocor), which provided the property.

"But this is not the first time we partnered with the Floirendos. In 1997, the Ayalas and the Floirendos also entered into partnership to develop a condominium in Makati City, called the Regency. It was a very successful joint venture," ALI senior vice president Ma. Victoria Añonuevo told Sun.Star Davao in a one-on-one interview Monday night.

"The Abreeza project costs P4-P5 billion. That's a major investment and it proves Ayala Land's confidence in this city," she said.

The project had its ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday, attended by Anflocor and ALI top executives that included Don Antonio Floirendo Sr., ALI chair Fernado Augusto Zobel de Ayala, ALI president Jaime Ayala, Ayala Corp. chair and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, Davao City Administrator Wendel Avisado, Anflocor SVP Ricardo Floirendo, Anflocor chair Antonio Floirendo Jr. and other executives of the two real estate companies.

"We are now in land development phase. By the first quarter of 2009, construction works will start at Abreeza," Añonuevo said.

She said construction stage of the project will employ more than 3,000 workers.

She refused to give an estimate on how much revenues can be generated by the city as soon as the project will start operations, but she expressed optimism the project can generate thousands of jobs for Dabawenyos.

"Each BPO building can provide at least 3,000 jobs and there are two BPO buildings that will be set up at Abreeza," she said. "Plus the jobs to be generated by the Ayala Mall and the hotel and other business establishments that are to be set up in the area."

Añonuevo also cited the City Government for its support, prompting them to push through with the project, which she said would promote progress in the city.

"The local government is very supportive. We have complied all the necessary requirements without much hitches. We're lucky that we have a prominent clan as partner (referring to the Floirendos)," she said.

Abreeza, strategically located at the northern fringe of the economic hub of Davao, is within reasonable distance from major schools and universities, private and government offices and banks.

The 61,000 square meters Ayala Mall will form part of the development that includes two office buildings catering to the BPO industry as part of the initial phase.

Añonuevo said the first phase of the mall, covering some 35,000 square meters gross leasable area (GLA) will open in the fourth quarter of 2010, while the second phase, covering 26,000 square meters GLA will open in the third quarter of 2011.

Añonuevo said the first BPO building, expected to be ready for occupancy by the fourth quarter of 2009, will have 10,000 square meters GLA while the second building, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011, will have 8,000 square meters GLA.

She said another three hectares, which form part of the 10-hectare property, will be developed as lots for commercial and or commercial purposes. A hotel will also be set up within this portion of the property.

The Abreeza development will be housed in a joint-venture company called Accendo Commercial Corp., with the following ownership structure: ALI - 67 percent and Anflocor - 33 percent. (Nelson C. Bagaforo/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

A lil bit of bad news....pero ok pa rin as a whole :okay:

Foreign BPOs wary of locating at Ayala’s site in Davao
Business World (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092408/content.php?id=043)

DAVAO CITY — The Ayala group is having difficulty convincing US companies to locate their operations at its planned business process outsourcing (BPO) building here given travel advisories issued by foreign embassies.

Marivic E. Añonuevo, senior vice-president and group head of the Ayala Malls Group, said the American principals of BPO locators are wary of even paying them a visit because of the travel warnings on Mindanao. "There is still the challenge of convincing people to come and invest with us," she told BusinessWorld.

The Ayala group is building a P2.3-billion BPO complex that will have a floor area of 20,000 square meters. The BPO building will have five levels with 10,000 square meters allocated for call center operations.

Construction of the building will start next year and will be completed by 2012. The centerpiece of the project, Ayala Center Davao, is expected to open in two years. "People have come and see with their own eyes how peaceful it is here. There are also testimonials from those who have located here," she added.

Ms. Añonuevo cited studies claiming that Davao City has a substantive A, B and C markets that make up a fifth of its population, higher than Cebu’s 16%.

In terms of talent pool, the Business Process Association of the Philippines has recognized Davao City’s potential for second-tier cities, ranking only next to Cebu.Ms. Añonuevo said they are unfazed by the Gokongweis’ plan to set up a Robinsons shopping mall and the Sys’ similar intent to build an SM mall near the Ayala Center here. A market research and competitive studies they conducted, she said, showed a gap in the supply and demand in the Davao commercial sector.

In the late 1980s, the Ayala group tried to buy the Lanang Golf Course owned by the Dakudao family, some four kilometers from its Abreeza project. About 10 hectares of the golf course were reportedly acquired two months ago by taipan Henry Sy for the SM Davao North project, construction of which has not been announced.

"We also like to bring in our established local and international merchants in Manila, [so they can] invest in Davao," she said. The Ayala project is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs, while the BPOs will generate 3,000 more jobs. During the construction phase, 3,000 local workers are expected to be hired. — Joel V. Escovilla

:applause: :applause: :applause:

Asiatown IT Park, Lahug-Apas, Cebu City, Philippines

The Skyrise Buildings
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/238/600x600/61/CEBMNL98.jpg?et=B1wlSyDlJtdz%2B5fzeBbedg&nmid=116774915

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AIG, JPMorgan expanding BPO operations here despite crisis

THE LOCAL outsourcing operations of troubled US insurance firm American International Group (AIG) and financial giant JPMorgan Chase & Co. will continue expanding here despite mounting concerns of a slump in the world’s largest economy.

AIG-Business Processing Services, Inc. (BPSI), which has operations in the Philippines handling all customer service requirements of its parent, said it does not expect demand to slow down. The company is hiring 1,700 more workers for a third business process outsourcing (BPO) site.

"Despite the downturn, there is still a huge opportunity since AIG is still the largest insurance company in the world," AIG-BPSI Chief Executive Officer Chris Duncan-Webb told executives at the Asia CEO Forum in Makati.

In a separate briefing, JPMorgan said it was expanding its BPO operations here to serve its American credit card clientele.

Chase, the New York-based financial giant’s brand for its credit card services, yesterday opened its 14,050-seat call center facility, which will be housed at the New Quad Building in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The launch marks the first phase of JPMorgan’s expansion plans in the country, five years after it tapped the Philippines for its offshore backroom operations. JPMorgan has been housed at the Philamlife Tower in Makati City since 2003.

Last week, the US Federal Reserve extended a lifeline worth $85 billion in loans — designed to help AIG meet its obligations and prevent its collapse — in exchange for an 80% stake in the company.

Fed officials said they had to act because of AIG’s extensive involvement in financial markets. Through its insurance, risk and asset management businesses, AIG has dealings with thousands of companies all over the world, so a bankruptcy would have had huge global repercussions.

As a result of the US home loan mortgage crisis, AIG has lost more than $18 billion since the year started. Its share price has fallen by more than 90%.

On the other hand, JPMorgan did not sustain as much damage from the US subprime mortgage mess by avoiding bad mortgage investments and focusing instead on its commercial and retail banking businesses.

AIG’s Mr. Duncan-Webb said the company had set up its third BPO site in Muntinlupa City, which is expected to more than double the company’s employees.

BPSI, which has 1,200 workers now, is planning to add 1,700 more employees when the site opens in December.

He said the company had prepared the site "ahead of the need," in anticipation of higher demand from its parent in the next few years.

Mr. Duncan-Webb said the Philippines "has an incredible future ahead of it, even with its small operations" in the global BPO sector.

He said the country is a good investment site for the long term. The company, he added, is confident that demand for its services from AIG would not slow down.

He also said outsourcing services have evolved into knowledge-based services from regular call center operations.

Mr. Duncan-Webb said AIG would find it hard to bring the outsourced services back to the US, where labor costs are higher.

The insurance firm is a Fortune 500 company that has over a trillion dollars in assets and around 74 million clients in 130 countries.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan said its expansion attests to its increased optimism in the Philippine economy.

"Over the years, JP Morgan will be a top employer here. This marks only the first phase of our expansion in the Philippines. The best is yet to come," Barry E. Marshall, JPMorgan senior country operations officer, said at yesterday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Our investment in this facility showed that we’ve done well," said Michael J. Looney, JP Morgan card service operations executive.

JPMorgan plans to grow its call center manpower to 24,000 in the long term, starting off with 2,000 by yearend. It now has 1,300 workers.

"It depends on where customer demand is," Mr. Looney said in an interview. "We will need more staff as we grow the business," he added.

The credit card arm of JPMorgan has around 50 million customers in the US. While admitting that it has been a more challenging year — with more Americans defaulting in their loan payments and the widening credit squeeze in the US dampening consumer demand — Mr. Looney was bullish about growing their credit card portfolio.

"We’re not immune to [defaults]. But we’re well positioned to weather the crisis," he said.

JP Morgan has veered away from subprime mortgage-related investments, shielding it from the financial crisis that had led to the collapse of America’s financial market pillars like Lehman Brothers.

The Philippines wants to corner a 10% share of the projected $130-billion BPO market by 2010. Business process outsourcing was a $3.3-billion industry as of 2007, with 120 companies employing at least 200,000 workers.
source (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092408/content.php?id=041)

Japanese investors eye call center in Silay City

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:53am (Mla time) 09/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A group of Japanese investors are looking at setting up call centers in Silay City in Negros Occidental province, a local official told INQUIRER.net.

A report from outsourcing research firm Callcentres.net said a group of Japanese investors from partner firms Masterpiece Group and local partner Nomura Securities Philippines recently met with Mayor Jose Montelibano to discuss their intent to invest in Silay.

The proposed call centers would cater to Japanese, Chinese and English-speaking clients, the report said.

City councilor Mike Maravilla confirmed via telephone the meeting with Japanese investors, although he noted that plans are yet to be finalized.

Silay is categorized as a second-class city and is located north of the provincial capital of Bacolod. It is also the site of the new Bacolod-Silay International airport.

Maravilla said an area near the new airport is being developed as an investment site for IT-related industries and has a pending application with PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) to become an economic zone.

"Our thrust is to attract IT-related investments but we need to have adequate infrastructure first. Once approved, telcos have already committed to improve connectivity in Silay," Maravilla said.

A number of call center operators, including Convergys and Teletech, have already set up in Bacolod.

Japanese investors eye call center in Silay City

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:53am (Mla time) 09/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A group of Japanese investors are looking at setting up call centers in Silay City in Negros Occidental province, a local official told INQUIRER.net.

A report from outsourcing research firm Callcentres.net said a group of Japanese investors from partner firms Masterpiece Group and local partner Nomura Securities Philippines recently met with Mayor Jose Montelibano to discuss their intent to invest in Silay.

The proposed call centers would cater to Japanese, Chinese and English-speaking clients, the report said.

City councilor Mike Maravilla confirmed via telephone the meeting with Japanese investors, although he noted that plans are yet to be finalized.

Silay is categorized as a second-class city and is located north of the provincial capital of Bacolod. It is also the site of the new Bacolod-Silay International airport.

Maravilla said an area near the new airport is being developed as an investment site for IT-related industries and has a pending application with PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) to become an economic zone.

"Our thrust is to attract IT-related investments but we need to have adequate infrastructure first. Once approved, telcos have already committed to improve connectivity in Silay," Maravilla said.

A number of call center operators, including Convergys and Teletech, have already set up in Bacolod.

Another reason to smile... :banana::banana::banana:

^^
hehe, keep on smiling!:)

another perception problem for Mindanao.

another perception problem for Mindanao.

oks lang yan...once merong magsimulang maglocate dito, sunod2x na yan...kudos to the pioneering BPOs in Davao. :D

I can't believe the progress rate attained by Cebu City / Metro Cebu when it comes to infrastructure development. The pictures of the city posted here remind me of Ortigas Centre, Pasig during its middle stage of development. There's so much potential for Cebu to join in the elite league of world-class cities. I'm very, very impressed of the progress. I hope it only continues to move forward.

^^
hehe, keep on smiling!:)

Ana gud ang tinuod nga spirit sang Bacolod, Migs... :)

Translation : It's (smile) the true spirit of Bacolod, Migs.

AFAIK......

KPO - or Knowledge Process Outsourcing, eto yung higher form ng BPO and requires specialized skills. KPO is more like a challenge as it demands advanced and expertise skills on part of its employees. For instance, in a financial service BPO, data entry of invoices has been around for some time. Now, international companies are thinking, why not broaden the scope to include financial analysis?" Hence, now enters..KPO. :D

This is a segment of the outsourcing industry that warrants serious consideration.
Most of the BPOs in the country involves only information processing where educational background and specific industry skills are not strong requirements of employment.

The call center industry is a welcome relief but is not an elixir to an ailing economy. The country’s bid for progress must rely on knowledge based earning assets that command higher returns for the specialized services rendered...not just plain information processing.

^^
hehe.:) thanks.

so sayang pala yung degree ko sa nuclear physics kapag ng BPO ako? =D

puede ka rin namn tech support ng nuclear weapons ng North Korea, India etc.... j/k:D

Friday, September 26, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Corporate News
Outsourcing firm hiring more
LOCAL ENGINEERING and architectural design services outsourcing firm Environments Global Ltd. is beefing up operations in the Philippines by hiring up to 5,000 employees in the next three to four years, from less than 400 today.

The company, which has clients in the Philippines, as well as in North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe, yesterday said it would continue expanding operations in the next few years as it anticipates increased demand for its services, despite the US-led global economic slowdown.

"We are more than doubling the size of our business both in terms of floor space and head count in the next year," Environments Global Chief Executive Officer Antony D. Zubiri said in a statement.

The company expects to have more than a thousand employees by end-2009, from around 360 today.

"In the next three to four years, we [will] have created 5,000 [more] jobs," he said. Most of these jobs will be for architects, engineers and other construction design professionals.

The company noted that "despite the US-led economic slowdown, the real estate and construction business in the Philippines will continue to grow because of an upsurge in demand and supply."

Citing the Philippines Infrastructure Report 2008 by Business International Monitor, the company said construction would continue to grow by 6.3% to end the year with $7.8 billion in revenues. This growth rate will be sustained up to 2012, it added.

The company said its services track the rapid growth of the real estate industries in the Middle East, Australia, Russia, Spain and other parts of Europe.

"We plan to enlarge our office space by about 5,000 square meters in the next 12 months, and then bt another 5,000 square meters the year after, since we need the bigger space to match our aggressive recruitment efforts," Mr. Zubiri said.

He declined to say how much the company will be spending for the expansion.

Starting with less than 10 employees in 1996, the company said its revenues have gone up by half annually.

Environments Global is the only Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) member that is engaged in architecture, engineering and construction-related services. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092608/content.php?id=043

Outsourcing firm in RP to hire 5,000 employees (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/123022/Outsourcing-firm-in-RP-to-hire-5000-employees#)

Article posted September 26, 2008 - 02:04 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Local engineering and architectural design services outsourcing firm Environments Global Ltd. is beefing up operations in the Philippines by hiring up to 5,000 employees in the next three to four years.

The company - which has clients in the Philippines, as well as in North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe - on Thursday said it would continue expanding operations in the next few years as it anticipates increased demand for its services, despite the US-led global economic slowdown.

"We are more than doubling the size of our business both in terms of floor space and head count in the next year," Environments Global Chief Executive Officer Antony D. Zubiri said in a statement.

The company expects to have more than a thousand employees by end-2009, from around 360 today.

"In the next three to four years, we [will] have created 5,000 [more] jobs," he said. Most of these jobs will be for architects, engineers and other construction design professionals.

The company noted that "despite the US-fled economic slowdown, the real estate and construction business in the Philippines will continue to grow because of an upsurge in demand and supply."

Citing the Philippines Infrastructure Report 2008 by Business International Monitor, the company said construction would continue to grow by 6.3% to end the year with $7.8 billion in revenues. This growth rate will be sustained up to 2012, it added.

The company said its services track the rapid growth of the real estate industries in the Middle East, Australia, Russia, Spain and other parts of Europe.

"We plan to enlarge our office space by about 5,000 square meters in the next 12 months, and then bt another 5,000 square meters the year after, since we need the bigger space to match our aggressive recruitment efforts," Mr. Zubiri said.

He declined to say how much the company will be spending for the expansion.

Starting with less than 10 employees in 1996, the company said its revenues have gone up by half annually.

Environments Global is the only Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) member that is engaged in architecture, engineering and construction-related services. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessSWorld

RP should focus on intelligent outsourcing (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/118080/RP-should-focus-on-intelligent-outsourcing#)

Article posted September 04, 2008 - 03:38 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The outsourcing industry needs to focus more on services revolving around high-end knowledge work if it wants to compete with larger outsourcing giants in Asia.

Focusing on niche services might help the Philippines make up for the value that it loses to India and China, leaders of the global business process outsourcing (BPO) business because of the sheer number of their clients, said Dave Mitchell, an analyst from research firm Ovum.

"The Philippines needs to think of specialization," he told BusinessWorld in a phone interview from London late Monday.

"The Philippines cannot compete with the volumes of India and China in terms of scale," he pointed out.

While the first wave of outsourcing was related to manufacturing, the second wave information technology and the third wave business processes, the next wave is said to be all about knowledge processes.

Hence, the introduction of a new buzzword — knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) — to replace the last one, BPO.

Mr. Mitchell said outsourcing companies in the Philippines should focus on higher-value services to be able to charge clients a premium, as opposed to regular voice call services. He said the country need not market itself as the world’s premier outsourcing destination in terms of number of employees. Instead, it should call attention to the type of services that the industry can offer to clients.

Mr. Mitchell said the country can retain its no. 3 rank as an outsourcing destination as long as the local industry starts offering more valuable services, which can generate more revenues.

In an e-mail, Business Processing Association of the Philippines Chief Executive Officer Oscar R. Sañez said Filipinos are very competent in the areas of finance, engineering and design process, and health care.

The industry engineering design work, health research capabilities, finance accounting and analytics work "will all get to higher levels of significance and value that will become new sources of growth for the industry," Mr. Sañez told BusinessWorld.

"As these fields get more and more outsourced, we will continue to build specialization in these areas," he added.

But Mr. Mitchell said a heightened focus on high-end services must go with efforts to sustain regular call center operations, which still represent the bulk of the industry’s revenues. "Don’t abandon today’s market in search of tomorrow," was his advice.

Mr. Sañez said the industry "would continue to [experience] growth in the voice-supported BPO services as companies continue to rely on customer service to build customer satisfaction and loyalty."

To address the problem of talent leaving their jobs, companies need to realize that offering high salaries is not the only way to keep people, Mr. Mitchell said.

Good management skills and offering employees fulfilling career opportunities in the long term prevent people from leaving, he added. Companies say the attrition rate can go as high as 50% annually.

Mr. Sañez agreed, saying "leadership plays a key role in almost every industry, including the BPO industry." BPO workers particularly go through a lot of stress due to late work shifts, he pointed out.

He said companies are addressing the exodus of BPO workers by developing conducive work environments, offering career advancement opportunities, continuous training and attractive financial packages.

"We put a lot of attention on accelerating the training and development of our young supervisors and team leaders particularly in people skills," he said. Mr. Sañez added that the government and the private sector should pay more attention to the educational system to support the industry. "We need to prepare our students for the work requirements of the industry."

He cited the need to upgrade the country’s engineering and science courses, aside from improving facilities and the faculty.

"We need to integrate more management [subjects] into engineering and science [courses] and integrate more engineering and science [subjects] into business courses," he said. "Of course, the general education system has to be fixed too."

Mr. Mitchell said compared with neighbors like Malaysia and Pakistan, the Philippines gives more support to the industry in the form of tax incentives and by promoting vocational programs.

Mr. Sañez said the local outsourcing industry has been growing at 25% to 30% yearly since 2001. It is expected to grow into a $13-billion industry by 2010, from $7 billion by yearend. - BusinessWorld

Let me ask.

If the Democrats win in the November elections, would their policies against outsourcing or BPO firms affect the Philippine booming BPO market?

No it wont! Specially now that they are having financial woes... THEY will tend to relocate more jobs offshore to increase profit and decrease losses/spendings... BPO would be the answer. Besides it will favor their companies plus the fact that whether DEMO or REPU will win, those companies will still expand outside the US to be more competitive and "this jobs" are not really that needed back in the US or as they say, a "white man would rather not do"... ito na yung mga trabaho na ayaw nila... :)

The trend for BPO will continue to improve as far as investing here and staying for good... not just US are outsorcing here but CANADA, UK and AUSTRALIA as well. AND kung meron pa sana basic Spanish sa school/college naku... they do give premium (mas mataas offer) for SPANISH speakers in my previous call center... kaya lang ng makita ko mga agents dun... majority in late 30's and some are in late 40's... yung Father ko ata inabutan pa yung Spanish 101-104 sa University. :banana:

GDAP hopes to turn RP into SE Asia’s game development hub (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080926-163101/GDAP-hopes-to-turn-RP-into-SE-Asias-game-development-hub)

By Alexander Villafania

INQUIRER.net

First Posted 15:50:00 09/26/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- At the recently concluded Games Convention Asia (GCA) 2008 in Singapore, the Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) had another crack at promoting the Philippines as a place to get services for game development and for great talent.

GDAP President Gabby Dizon and International Game Development Association (IGDA) Philippine Chapter Manager Ranulf Goss sat with INQUIRER.net for a short talk on what are the organization’s expectations for the GCA.

Dizon, who is also president of his own company, Flipside Games, said that their attendance in GCA 2008 was the second since the first GCA event in 2007. While the previous year was to let other countries know that there is a growing game development industry in the country, in GCA 2008 they aim to strengthen the partnership that they built.

Hopefully, by building the relationship they have with other developments firms across Southeast Asia, they'll be able to bring in more foreign companies to work with Asian firms for various projects.

Dizon said that the GDAP is working hard to ensure that game development firms in the Philippines are prepared to accept projects from foreign firms.

So far, GDAP has 10 member-companies, though Dizon said there are at least 20 other development firms in the Philippines.

He also noted that if there is one big challenge for development firms in the Philippines is the lack of supply of skilled programmers and artists.

Meanwhile, IGDA Philippines' Goss said that the country only needs to train talents to work for the gaming industry. He said that there is a healthy community of gamers who may want to join as game developers.

Goss claimed that in terms of sheer talent, in large part on artistry, Filipinos are ahead among many Asian countries. He points to the animation industry where many Filipino companies provide services to foreign animation firms.

Both Dizon and Goss said that the industry needs more support to achieve its goals as a game development hub. More so, the younger generation must also develop their skills if they want to join the game development industry.

CrimsonLogic eyes hosted software market in RP
(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080926-163104/CrimsonLogic-eyes-hosted-software-market-in-RP)

By Lawrence Casiraya

INQUIRER.net

First Posted 15:59:00 09/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Singapore-based CrimsonLogic is eyeing hosted software services for the local market, its top local official told INQUIRER.net.

The company is also looking at getting more customers from the government and the lucrative business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, said Ernesto Cruz Jr., recently appointed as the company’s country manager for the Philippines.

CrimsonLogic sells enterprise software customized for different vertical markets. It opened a local office in 2003 and its local customers include companies and the local Supreme Court, which deployed its eJudiciary system.

"Our business strategy is to remain focused on our domain expertise across trade and logistics, legal and tax, healthcare and government and citizen services," Cruz said via email.

Cruz said CrimsonLogic is looking at taking advantage of the market trend toward Web-based software, which promises less infrastructure costs for end-users.

He noted: "In the Philippines, we are strongly committed to delivering a range of B2B (business to business), G2B (government to business) and G2C (government to consumer) services, as we closely collaborate with our partners from the various market segments."

"We also find the local IT industry opting for a hosted model and given such a trend, we are seeing more opportunities in providing services such as facilities management, security consulting outsourcing and other specific services outsourcing," he added.

Cruz said CrimsonLogic is looking at establishing outsourcing operations locally primarily to support its Singapore-based customers.

Abreeza — Davao’s upcoming BPO destination

by Blogie • 25 September 2008

Abreeza groundbreaking Last 23 September 2008, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), in partnership with the Anflocor Group, broke ground on Abreeza, Davao’s upcoming high-end real estate development for business and leisure. (Think Eden Nature Park meets Greenbelt.) In a simple but momentous ceremony, high-power representatives of the two major Philippine corporations signaled the start of building work on the 10-hectare property along J. P. Laurel Avenue.

Abreeza will be a multi-use commercial center that will house a mall, entertainment areas (including natural open spaces, comprising about 20% of the total project area), and locations reserved specifically for business-process outsourcing (BPO) operations. In fact, there are two buildings planned solely for BPO companies, according to the representatives of Ayala Land.

The first building is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009 and will have a total gross leasable area of 10,000 sqm. While ALI has not yet signed any particular BPO firm for Abreeza, they do have existing locators in their IT parks and buildings in Metro Manila and Cebu.

At the press conference following the groundbreaking rites Tuesday last week, ALI President Jaime I. Ayala explained that they do maintain a loyal group of BPO locators who may very well be expected to follow them to Davao once the facilities are in place. He further expounded that this was the case in the Ayala IT Park in Cebu City.

The groundbreaking of this much-awaited development, which is a joint venture between ALI and Anflocor, is a very clear and resounding signal of strong investor confidence in Davao City. The ALI executives expressed their approval of the region’s peace-and-order situation, as well as of the overall favorable business climate in the Philippine South. Hence their preparedness to sink in up to Php5 billion in the Abreeza project.

During the press conference, which was held at the Pearl Farm Marina in Lanang, ALI and Anflocor decision-makers made themselves available for interview by local media, as well as by a couple of bloggers – Ria Jose and yours truly. Sidebar: I am glad that more and more business entities are now recognizing the usefulness of blogs as an effective communications medium.

Being an active member of the city’s IT industry as well, I was particularly interested in the ICT component of Abreeza. Upon introducing the existence of organized ICT groups in Davao, both presidents of ALI and Anflocor immediately expressed an interest in interfacing with the Association of Solution Integrators in Davao (ASID) and ICT Davao Inc.

ASID is the organization of software development houses and companies offering software-based solutions. ICT Davao is the umbrella group of all ICT-related non-profit organizations in the city (of which ASID is a founding member). I act as the executive director of ASID.

It is indeed beneficial for Davao to be the investment destination of more foreign BPO companies that will locate in Abreeza. On the other hand, it is my hope that this Ayala development will also spell success for the local ICT industry of Davao.

Judging by the keen interest and enthusiasm of the ALI executives when they inquired into ASID and ICT Davao, I’m convinced that Abreeza will be able to contribute directly to the progress of Davao’s IT sector.

Already, Ayala Businesscapes representatives, as well as Anflocor President Alexander Valoria, have communicated their intent to participate in Davao’s IT associations. Their contributions are certainly very welcome!

IT Talks (http://www.ittalks.net/2008/09/25/abreeza-davaos-upcoming-bpo-destination/)

What are the requirements for applying to BPOs?
Do you need to be a college graduate?
Do the companies train you first before you get accepted?
If so, how would the training be?

What are the requirements for applying to BPOs?
Do you need to be a college graduate?
Do the companies train you first before you get accepted?
If so, how would the training be?

AFAIK no need for college diploma as long as your'e good in english.

mostly companies train you before you get accepted at ang training depende sa companya .

yup, exactly...pero these mostly pertain to the agents. kaya, if you have the IQ and/or/especially charisma, you can be successful.
but if you apply for other positions, they sometimes require diplomas...example yung supervisors/managers (pero if nakukuha sa experience minsa), technical support (almost required ang diploma, pero nakukuha din sa experience/certifications)

How long would the training last, bro? Just give me a rough estimate. Hindi ako ang nagtatanong; ang cousin ko who's studying 2nd year right now at MSU-IIT. Galing siya sa Ateneo de Manila, but he transferred just this semester because he really wants to study Accountancy and it's not being offered at the Ateneo de Manila, onlt at Xavier University and MSU-IIT, sabi nya. (Hindi ko alam yon, ah.) Magaling siya mag-englis and he has a great personality. :D

How long would the training last, bro? Just give me a rough estimate. Hindi ako ang nagtatanong; ang cousin ko who's studying 2nd year right now at MSU-IIT. Galing siya sa Ateneo de Manila, but he transferred just this semester because he really wants to study Accountancy and it's not being offered at the Ateneo de Manila, onlt at Xavier University and MSU-IIT, sabi nya. (Hindi ko alam yon, ah.) Magaling siya mag-englis and he has a great personality. :D

anyone could get the position. I'm in one.

The most important thing is attitude, language proficiency (this is already given) and resiliency. CC Jobs require tough and careful handling of "special" customers as well as the problem of absenteeism.

from AdM pala ang cousin mo.... hehehe...

anyways, ok din naman humanities na course dun (you can get any job with it), and ung IT/business course nila (forgot what it's called)

kailangan ba talaga ang charisma? :D

How long would the training last, bro? Just give me a rough estimate. Hindi ako ang nagtatanong; ang cousin ko who's studying 2nd year right now at MSU-IIT. Galing siya sa Ateneo de Manila, but he transferred just this semester because he really wants to study Accountancy and it's not being offered at the Ateneo de Manila, onlt at Xavier University and MSU-IIT, sabi nya. (Hindi ko alam yon, ah.) Magaling siya mag-englis and he has a great personality. :D

Narinig ko sa commercial ng Sutherland Davao na hiring sila ng 1,500 agents who are at least on college level. So hindi kailangan na degree holder.

I can't speak though for other call centers.

May BS Accountancy din naman sa Ateneo de Davao, University of Mindanao, University of Southestern Philippines, University of Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross of Davao College, etc. just in case your cousin wants to relocate here para maka trabaho sya sa hindi nag rerequire ng college diploma.

kailangan ba talaga ang charisma? :D

yup! :)

lalo na if you fall under sales category...swak na swak! minsan, mas malaki pa ung commission mo sa basic mo...hehehe...

I have a friend (pero sa PS Cebu), yung commish nya is minsan abot daw 1.5x ng basic nya and isang beses 2x pa daw...hawud daw siya manliba ug kano...hehehe...$$$ man gud ang sales, kaya ang cut nya when converted to Pesos eh malaki...

More BPO firms to open in Mindanao (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09292008/economy04.html)

By Bong Garcia Jr.
Reporter


ZAMBOANGA CITY—More business- process outsourcing (BPO) offices are likely to open in Mindanao as key cities like General Santos continue to develop business environments that are particularly attractive to information-technology (IT) firms, industry experts noted.

With this development, Maria Jamea Garcia, Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) executive director for talent development, said Mindanao and its major cities should be aggressive in their campaign to improve the talent, infrastructure and environment needed to advance in the sector of IT and IT-enabled services.

A BPAP study showed the Philippines is well-positioned to corner a 10-percent share of the global outsourcing and offshoring market by 2010, with potential revenues of about $13 billion and additional direct employment of close to one million workers.

Data from the United States Agency for International Development-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program showed that Mindanao cities like General Santos, Iligan and Zamboanga have strong potential as competitive offshoring sites, particularly when the labor and infrastructure resources of their neighboring municipalities and provinces are factored in.

The GEM program is helping to facilitate BPO investment in Mindanao.

“Developing these additional cities would help the Philippines achieve a more balanced distribution of growth in the BPO sector. This will ease some of the pressures on costs and help seed development in other parts of the country,” Garcia said.

Bing Garcia, vice president and chief operations officer of Marbel Telephone System Inc., said his company has begun laying down a fiber-optic network which he calls the “Ring of Fiber” connecting General Santos and the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

The “Ring” is being established in preparation for General Santos’ planned WiMax system, a wireless digital communications system whose broad coverage can be extended to its outlying districts and rural areas, much like a cellular-phone network.

Tacurong City and the 11 municipalities in the province of Sultan Kudarat will also be connected to the fiber-optic network under the Sultan Kudarat Telephone System Inc.

General Santos City is the trading and agro-industrial center of Region 12, which also encompasses the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.

Contact center sector may be threatened by US crisis (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/123696/Contact-center-sector-may-be-threatened-by-US-crisis#)

Article posted September 29, 2008 - 01:38 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The US financial crisis will have a detrimental effect on the Philippines’ thriving Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, one of the economy’s leading drivers.

“The main source of domestic job placements are BPO outfits such as call centers whose clients are in the US," Speaker Prospero C. Nograles said. “We may not feel the effects right away but…these key industries… are directly linked with the crisis in the US."

The BPO sector only gained ground in the Philippines in the early part of the new millennium, although outsourcing in other parts of the globe began as early as the 1990s.

From a mere P2 billion in 2000, investment in the Philippines’ contact center industry surged to P11 billion in 2001, then settled to P5 to 7 billion annually in the next four years.

From 112,000 employees in 2005, the BPA/P (Business Process Association, Philippines) targeted a direct employment close to 1 million by the end of 2010.

“As the growth of the US economy will definitely stagnate because of the adverse ramifications of the financial market turbulence, the Philippines will be affected through a slowdown in exports. While the
hare of the country's exports to the US has been declining, it continues to be the number one export market," he added.

Nograles urged President Arroyo to immediately call for an economic summit, or an expanded Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting as soon as possible in view of the US economic meltdown which, Nograles said, will inevitably cause rippling effects on the Philippine economy. - D’Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV

How do you apply from Iligan? :D (cuase he's backed here now.)
Is it possible to apply through email or phone?
Okay, I'll tell him all the information I've gathered from here. I think he better start lurking around this thread as he gets direct and solid info from real call center agents themselves. I'll invite him to join in with our discussion.


Ady001, can you give me a glimpse of the application process for BPO? What are the steps that you went through? Do you have to undergo a company training? If, yes, for how long? And, about the verbal skills in English, how good must the applicant have to be? Do you really have to sound like they do, I mean, with an American twang? I think it would take a lot of time to learn to speak like them, don't you think?

Another thing, bro: how much does a Call Center Agent earns there in Davao (for basic and all in)? What’s the salary range for those who are into sales? (I wonder what kind of stuff are they selling.)

How do you apply from Iligan? :D (cuase he's backed here now)
Is it possible to apply through email or phone?
Yes it is. Submission of resumes and initial interviews are normally done through phone. You may submit your resume through jobsdb and jobstreet. If you wish to have your resume sent to a number of BPOs here in Metro Manila with no sweat, try www.pinoyagents.com :okay: However, please take note that the entire recruitment process (exams, phone simulation, etc) will be done personally and not through the phone.


can you give me a glimpse of the application process. What are the steps that you went through?

Here's a typical recruitment process:

- initial phone interview
- grammar exam
- typing skills (other callcenters dont have this exam)
- active listening exam (other callcenters dont have this exam)
- final interview
- phone simulation / mock call
- job offer


Do you have to under a company training?

Yes, we do have.


If, yes, for how long?
Depende sa account mo. Pero, eto yung flow ng training:

Accent Neutralization Training/ Communication Skills Training / Language and Culture Training - 1 to 2 weeks

Product Specs Training/ Account Specific - 3 to 4 weeks.


And, about the verbal skills in English.
how good must the applicant have to be? Do you really have to sound like they do, I mean, with an American twang?

You have to be fluent verbally. Wala silang paki-alam kung ala Shakespeare ang written communication skill mo or ala manager ang business writing skill ng isang applicant. Ang pinaka-importante is the way you communicate verbally. Avoid fillers like uhmmm ahhhh, refrain from using Filipinoism, and you have to talk with confidence.


Do you really have to sound like they do, I mean, with an American twang?

No! You don't have to sound like an american. You dont need to have a twang. In fact, most of the contact centers would prefer someone who has a neutral accent. With my previous contact center, 24/7 Customers (www.247customer.com) and PeopleSupport (www.peoplesupport.com), our QAs (people monitoring the calls) will flag you down or coach you up if they'd hear an agent imitating an American accent. Kc halata naman pagpinifake mo eh. And the more you fake it, the more you wont be understood by the caller. Kaya, be natural and mas maganda ang neutral accent. You want to start studying how a neutral accent would go? try watching cnn. :okay:


I think it would take a lot of time to learn to speak like them.

But as you work with these americans sa phone, eventually, you will absorb their accent naturally. Sometimes when I talk with my friends (from outside of the industry), they would actually tease my accent. Sobrang slang daw. But i didnt do that intentionally. I've been with the industry for 4 years. You're accent would actually improve naturally. Just imagine, you're talking with these americans the whole time during your work, the whole week, and the whole life that you will be in the contact center industry. Pagpasok mo sa work, EOP kaagad or English Only Policy. So you would eventually absorb their culture, the way they talk - speed and accent, etc.


Another thing bro, how much does a Call Center Agent earns there (for basic and all in)? What’s the salary range for those who are into sales? (I wonder what kind of stuff are they selling.)

Hmmm...it's really unethical to talk about salaries.....eheheheheh If you'll ask around our industry, you would definitely receive different answers. But lemme give you atleast a range; that's between 12K to 30K and is dependent on your account, your company, and your experience in the industry.

Here are the big names in the contact center industry (in random order):

Convergys
Sykes
PeopleSupport
Teletech
e-Telecare

Although these companies are considered as pillars of the contact center industry in the Philippines, that doesnt mean that malaki ang offer nila sa basic salary. It would play between 12K (for newbies on training) to 15K (once regularized). Pero yung sahod mo, hindi naman stuck jan eh. We do have annual salary increase and it will be based on your performance, we have bonuses, we have incentives, and allowances.

Here are the high paying contact centers in the industry:

Dell
IBM
247 Customers
Stellar
JP Morgan
GE (Alabamg)
Deutche
and others

Salary range is between 21K to 30K. But most of the time, they prefer seasoned or experienced contact center agents.

If you wish to have a career in the industry (become a manager or a supervisor) or be part of the pioneering teams, these are some of the new contact centers in the Philippine shore but been established for along time now abroad.

vCustomer
WiPro
StarTek
Sear

:okay: The companies I have mentioned above are located in Metro Manila. Some of these have branches in Cebu. If you dont want to leave Mindanao but still what to have a career in our industry, I suggest you go to Davao City. Davao City has a number of big contact centers such as

- Sutherland Global
- Western Wats
- Sitel (still on the process of establishing their operations in Davao City)
- Concentrix

May iba pang callcenters sa Davao but I didnt include them in the list (small ones). Those 4 above are considered as few of the big players in the Philippine contact center industry.

from AdM pala ang cousin mo.... hehehe...

anyways, ok din naman humanities na course dun (you can get any job with it), and ung IT/business course nila (forgot what it's called)

He studied there for a year only -- as a Management-Honors student. The attachment of "Honors" to the course, Management, makes me wonder what kind of stuff he actually studies. (Do you have an idea?) Anyway, he felt it wasn't what he really like to major in, and probably, what he envisions to become when he graduates from the course. My uncle, my mom's brother who's the subject's father, is an Accountant and so that probably makes him like to become one too. He re-applied to UP Diliman (that's the second time he applied there) but he didn't get lucky, again. :lol: He said the Accountancy at UP Diliman is tough to get onto, so he decided to come back here in Iligan and continued his studies at MSU-IIT, but on the Accountancy program this time. He said he chose to go to IIT because all his subjects at the Ateneo de Manila will be credited. BTW, I think it's called AdMU, not AdM. :)

I'm also trying my luck at AdMU. I just took the ACET and it was very hard. I hope I get accepted though. I applied for Economics. :) But I’m more excited to get an offer from DLSU. I’m from a La Salle high school here in Iligan and I admit that I’m biased for La Salle. :) UP Diliman wouldn't be a pushover for me; defintely an uphill battle as the applicants soared up to 70k this year. I don’t think I’m that smart, so I’m not expecting any positive news from them. My second campus choice was UP Cebu. (It did not cross my mind that there’s one in Davao.) If my cousin will relocate there, I might consider attending a school there. The only struggle of relocating there that I’m anticipating however is the unfriendly route of to-and-fro Davao from Iligan. You know what I mean.



Putol-putol ang internet connection ko ito. Kaya sliced din ang pag send of ng post. My ISP is Globe pa naman. It sucks to pay 3k+/mo with this kind of service I'm getting. And it has been like this for 2 weeks now.

Maraming salamat sa mga nag-post back sa mga tanong ko. You’ve been all such a huge help. I’m truly grateful.

tj_brewed: a million thanks to your post. Very detailed and very informative. :)

(I wonder what kind of stuff are they selling.)

There are two types of contact center operations:

Inbound - you will receive calls. You will provide technical or customer service for specific accounts/clients.

Outbound - you do the calling and do the selling.

Most of the big contact centers do not have an outbound account. Or if they may have, they are not really focused on doing outbound. Big players are more into providing customer and technical support. In short, big players are more into "inbound" operations.

However, small time call centers are more into the "outbound" side of the business. These are the centers that call people abroad to sell different products and services from a website to an internet connection, from a credit card to a magazine subscription.

Unfortunately, people from outside of our industry would think that call centers are more into selling. That's a big no. Majority of the call center companies are not into hardcore selling. We are more into providing customer service and technical support. Although, we do have upselling along with it but that's not the meat of our business. ;)

tj_brewed

So, how long is the normal waiting period for the appliction? (I understand it takes 6 weeks, at least, for the training.) I'm just trying to sum up the time for the applicant to become officially in at the company.

Is that training with pay?

So, how long is the normal waiting period for the appliction?
If you are going to send your resume online today, expect for a call a day or two from now. You can also apply online through:

www.peoplesupport.com
ph.sykes.com/Careers.aspx
www.hirepoint.com/
www.etelecare.com


I understand it takes 6 weeks, at least, for the training. I'm just trying to sum up the time for the applicant to become officially in at the company.

Once you pass the recruitment process and sign the job offer, you are officially part of the company. However, you need to pass the training for you to stay in the company.


Is that training with pay?
Yes it is. With pay and with other benefits. Based on my experience in this industry with 2 contact centers in 4 years, these are the perks that had been provided to me even when i was still a trainee.

PeopleSupport

- basic pay
- night diff (20%)
- health care benefit of upto half a million (500K) per year through Maxicare
- rice subsidy (allowance)

247 Customer Philippines

- basic pay
- night diff (20%)
- health care benefit of up to 100K per illness per year through Medicard
- allowance of 3k - nontaxable.

Wow, the training goes with a buck. That’s cool!

Is the training rigorous for a 19/20 year old guy who has a few stints at the Ateneo de Manila with a QPI of 3.3+? (I'd like to know your personal assessment on this based on the past records.)

Sir, I've been hearing from friends of my friends that call center jobs are quite strenuous. I wonder what made them say that when, based on what you're saying here, they only have to do some talking and that's it. What's so strenuous about that?

Another thing, sir: based on your opinion, which has the better working ambience between the in-bound and the out-bound systems? Maybe you can also give your personal knowledge as to which one between the two will pay more?

A million thanks for giving out some very informative posts. Hulog ka ng langit. :D

In other words, why do call center agents don't last long when the pay is relatively higher compared to other career jobs out there?

How long does promotion takes place?

How one would get promoted?


Sorry and kulet ko. na excite kasi ako sa mga posts ninyo. :lol:

Wow, the training goes with a buck. That’s cool!

Is the training rigorous for a 19/20 year old guy who has a few stints at the Ateneo de Manila with a QPI of 3.3+? (I'd like to know your personal assessment on this based on the past records.)

It's not really that rigorous. Im pretty sure kayang kaya mo. I had a teammate before who started working at the age 18. ;)


Sir, I've been hearing from friends of my friends that call center jobs are quite strenuous. I wonder what made them say that when, based on what you're saying here, they only have to do some talking and that's it. What's so strenuous about that?

First, just call me Jech. Bata pa naman ako :D. And yes, strenuous ang job sa callcenter. People may say na madali lang kc u just have to answer a phone call...but in reality, it is beyond taking calls. You have to solve their issues and problems through the phone. I'll give u a scenario. This happened to me before sa previous account ko. I was with an online travel account. A lady called up and was really upset. There was a snowstorm and she's been traveling for hours already. She arrived at a hotel thinking that she had a reservation (well she made the booking online through our website). Pero, when she tried to check in, the front desk agent advised her that they are fully booked. So this lady was so upset. She cant go out and look for other hotels considering that there's a snowstorm. She called us coz we were her travel agent. She demanded for a place to stay that night. She kept on cursing and threatened to sue the company if an accommodation will not be provided.

If ikaw ang agent sa phone, what will u do?

^^ Another scenario, a businessman called you up - screaming frantically coz his flight schedule was changed. He was not advised by the airline. When you called the airline, you were advised that there was a sudden sked change due to some weather disturbances. U tried to explain this to the businessman but he refused to listen. He wanted to take the next flight out.

If ikaw ang agent sa other end of the line, what will you do?

These are just some of the call scenarios in my account. In the contact center industry, we have hundreds of accounts with thousands of call scenarios.

It is stressful for some because they need to solve these issues at a specific time (minutes), you need to provide customer satisfaction without discounting company policy, most of the time - you'll be cursed and shouted at by the callers, and you need to pass certain metrics (average talk time, quality, customer satisfaction rating) for you to stay in this industry.

based on your opinion, which has the better working ambience between the in-bound and the out-bound systems? Maybe you can also give your personal knowledge as to which one between the two will pay more?


Biased ako sa sagot ko...ehehehe kc, ive always been with "inbound" accounts. So i ll go for inbound. :okay: Malaki ang basic sa inbound pero wala kang commission. You'll get incentives though if your account would require you to do upselling.

Sa outbound, maliit ang basic compared to inbound pero mataas ang commission nila. BUT, your performance will be based on your sales.

In other words, why do call center agents don't last long when the pay is relatively higher compared to other career jobs out there?

Why? Coz of the following:

- emotional stress
- hormonal imbalance coz of working at night all the time:lol:
- metrics or quotas that you need to pass and reach
- some health issues like pharyngitis may develop
- you'll no longer celebrate holidays like Christmas, Newyear, etc.
- and more


How long does promotion takes place?
It depends on ur performance....The good thing in our industry is that companies do provide "equal opportunity" for all employees regardless of your educational background, experience, etc.

A lady called up and was really upset. There was a snowstorm and she's been traveling for hours already. She arrived at a hotel thinking that she had a reservation (well she made the booking online through our website). Pero, when she tried to check in, the front desk agent advised her that they are fully booked. So this lady was so upset. She cant go out and look for other hotels considering that there's a snowstorm. She called us coz we were her travel agent. She demanded for a place to stay that night. She kept on cursing and threatened to sue the company if an accommodation will not be provided.

Ha Ha Ha.. You probably were talking to my mom; that happened to us way back in 2005 in London. The storm was really bad and we just all arrived from the airport which was a long drive to Russell Hotel in Central London. Of course, my mom was shouting and cursing. I heard her asked the guy over the phone: are you Asian? You don't sound like you're British (which something she didn't expect because nobody knows BPO or a thing like that actually has actually existed back then. lol) Anyway, we weren't able to get some help from the guy she had a phone conversation with. The good thing was, there were Filipinos in the hotel and they provided the courtesy of booking us in a nearby hotel. We paid double. It was like 126 pounds per person per night and we were 6 persons that were trapped that night. I couldn't forget that incident. I hope you're not that guy my mom had contacted with, or we would know how to get our refund from that nightmarish tour. LoL



If ikaw ang agent sa phone, what will u do?

I don't know what I would do. Maybe I’d hang up the phone and excuse myself to go to the comfort room. (kunwari lang natatae na talaga ako. lol) Then I would watch the next agent to pick the client's call up and laugh. That would probably make my day. lol.

joks joks lang yon, ah. Pero, seriously, hindi ko talaga alam how to respond to such client's dilemma. But I wouldn't resign just because I talk to strangers' hang ups and complains on a daily basis if the pay is right.

Jech,

Were you hired by the company for the sole purpose of serving as "shock absorbers" for their unsatisfied clients? I mean, based on the circumstances you have been through, it looks like you were hired in case such unwanted instances happen. Is there really no concrete solution to such complains? Couldn’t you contact someone who’s more in-charged than you are to solve the clients’ problems? Cause if the purpose of your job is to provide as a shield from those riled up clients, no wonder no one has actually lasted in the job.

Isang question pa po: pwede po bang working student dyan? Are students allowed to choose their work sked?

anyone could get the position. I'm in one.

The most important thing is attitude, language proficiency (this is already given) and resiliency. CC Jobs require tough and careful handling of "special" customers as well as the problem of absenteeism.

This was one of my biggest challenges with my agents when our team was just starting. But thank the Lord it's now a thing of the past specially since majority of them are now almost on their 6th month which means it's assessment time for regularization. Nadala lang sa huraw. :lol:

But there were a couple of agents that I had to let go no matter how good they were technical/quality-wise because of attendance issue which in our company's case comprise a big chunk of the performance metrics.

Isang question pa po: pwede po bang working student dyan? Are students allowed to choose their work sked?

Jech, if I may...

^^ They are very much allowed. You'll just have to submit your school registration records as proof of being a student.

4 out of 15 agents under my team are working students from UP-Diliman. Most CCs offer part-time employment, but in our case all of our agents (in our company it's called Communication Assistant or CA as our account caters to the speech and hearing impaired in the U.S.) are working full-time as we don't offer such (part-time).

My hats are off to them for their resiliency and dedication to their job. Halos wala pang tulog when coming in from school and then to face another 8 challenging hours! ^^

But the good thing is we have this VTO (Voluntary Time Off) wherein they can do under-time but it will not be taken against their attendance score. VTOs though is only offered like 2 or 3 times in a week depending on the day's call volume or service level. :)

^ Galing naman nila. Syempre UP Diliman students ba naman. What can we expect from those high achieving students but the best performance and the best quality jobs...
Thank you for your input, sir. How long before you got promoted?

in 6 months ^^

I guess I was just lucky to belong to one of the pioneering batches (I was under wave or batch 2) and our account was on a ramp up at that time and badly needed supervisors to lead the ever growing number of teams. Until now we are still on a ramp at close to 700 agents, as the client demand is 1000 CAs for our account alone. :)

^ What's your company's name and address? (maka apply nga dyan.) :D

Just to share and somehow give you some more idea on how a call center set-up looks like.

Taken with my agents at work
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4368.jpg

The area that is encaptured in the pic is just 1/4 of the total production floor
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4367.jpg

More team photo ops taken with a photo exhibit in background during our company's 1st anniversary
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4355.jpg

With my fellow team leads or managers (kuno) as we are called in our company. The one in the middle is a graduate of DLSU-Taft while the lady is from ADMU, while I'm from... nevermind! :lol:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4353.jpg

^^
Sa APAC ka ba kuya bongskie?

Stellar Global Solutions atty. Silingan ra sa APAC!

Dati sa APAC ako. Pero naa koy idea ngano nangutana ka. :nuts:

^^
Hahahahaha! Ask lang man ko. :lol:

So naa lang mo sa same compound sa APAC?

Nope. Sa may likod mi sa Shopwise, tong dating Rustan's Superstore Building.

@timoga_lover, sa Araneta Center Cubao kami located.

^^
Ahhh... Madalas ako dyan dati. I used to hangout at Starbucks sa labas ng Gateway Mall. :lol:

Asan sa pictures yung apat na mga taga UP? Type ko yung girl na naka blue.

Sir, tanda mo na pala. :D Pero ikaw lang ang pogi sa mga guys. :lol:

Ha Ha Ha.. You probably were talking to my mom; that happened to us way back in 2005 in London. The storm was really bad and we just all arrived from the airport which was a long drive to Russell Hotel in Central London. Of course, my mom was shouting and cursing. I heard her asked the guy over the phone: are you Asian? You don't sound like you're British (which something she didn't expect because nobody knows BPO or a thing like that actually has actually existed back then. lol) Anyway, we weren't able to get some help from the guy she had a phone conversation with. The good thing was, there were Filipinos in the hotel and they provided the courtesy of booking us in a nearby hotel. We paid double. It was like 126 pounds per person per night and we were 6 persons that were trapped that night. I couldn't forget that incident. I hope you're not that guy my mom had contacted with, or we would know how to get our refund from that nightmarish tour. LoL


That wasn't me. I used to be from Expedia.com and we only handle calls from the US :okay: Expedia.uk (for UK) is being handled by a different center. Also, just for the record, I was able to solve that issue...First issue resolution was the name of our game or I wouldnt last almost 4 years in People Support ;)

Jech,

Were you hired by the company for the sole purpose of serving as "shock absorbers" for their unsatisfied clients? I mean, based on the circumstances you have been through, it looks like you were hired in case such unwanted instances happen. Is there really no concrete solution to such complains? Couldn’t you contact someone who’s more in-charged than you are to solve the clients’ problems? Cause if the purpose of your job is to provide as a shield from those riled up clients, no wonder no one has actually lasted in the job.

Yes and No. Companies hire you for the purpose of providing solutions to certain problems. So yes, in some way or another, u would act like a shock absorber (but not all the time). And No, because beyond being a shock absorber, ur job is to solve the caller's issue or mawawalan ka ng trabaho if u wont be able to do your best to address such concerns. Naka record ang mga calls and QAs (Quality Assurance officers) randomly listen to them. If they'd be able to pull up the recording of your calls tapos sa one of those call eh naghang up ka without addressing the concern, patay ka :D

no wonder no one has actually lasted in the job.
It's not true that nobody lasted that long. I have been in the industry for four years now...and counting ;) I just recently joined a new and start up company in Eastwood while doing my business on the side. I have colleagues who are in the industry for 7 to 8 years now. So yung mga kakilala mo na naggive up, then the contact center industry isnt for them. ;)

Stellar Global Solutions


Stellar is one of the high paying companies in the industry :okay:

By the way, Im not sure if totoo ang rumor running around but because of Stellar's high quality sa work nila, a big account from ePerformax is pulling out tapos lilipat daw sa Stellar. Is this true bongskie?

Just to share and somehow give you some more idea on how a call center set-up looks like.

Taken with my agents at work
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4368.jpg


If i'm straight....liligawan ko yung girl sa right most side ng pic. yung green ang earrings. :D However, im bi...so pwede pa rin :)

More team photo ops taken with a photo exhibit in background during our company's 1st anniversary
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r216/bongskie09/DSCF4355.jpg


Wow...may mga cuties...regards mo ko....both genders. :lol:

If i'm straight....liligawan ko yung girl sa right most side ng pic. yung green ang earrings. :D However, im bi...so pwede pa rin :)
ang ganda nga nung naka-green!

kung brown pa sana ang buhok niya, instant turn-on na ko sa iya! ;)

ang ganda nga nung naka-green!

kung brown pa sana ang buhok niya, instant turn-on na ko sa iya! ;)

ahem ahem...left most...ahem ahem...blue...ajem ahem ajem...

Hala samot na ta ka OT ani! :lol:

Yung type ni jech at il tinore may BF na, whose father is a General sa PA.

While yung naka-blue si Aiko, half-Japanese. PBL star player naman ang BF. :)

Asan sa pictures yung apat na mga taga UP? Type ko yung girl na naka blue.

Sir, tanda mo na pala. :D Pero ikaw lang ang pogi sa mga guys. :lol:

Ouch! hindi pa naman ako ganon katanda bro. Just turned 32 last month. :cool:

Re: UP students, 3 lang pala from UP. Yung mga naka green na girls sa pic with the photo exhibit in the background. Yung isa on day-off. The 4th one is yung half-Japanese, I forgot her school (CEU yata).

Stellar is one of the high paying companies in the industry :okay:

By the way, Im not sure if totoo ang rumor running around but because of Stellar's high quality sa work nila, a big account from ePerformax is pulling out tapos lilipat daw sa Stellar. Is this true bongskie?

Actually totally pulled out na from Eper, which is my current account. :wink:

Hala samot na ta ka OT ani! :lol:

Yung type ni jech at il tinore may BF na, whose father is a General sa PA.

While yung naka-blue si Aiko, half-Japanese. PBL star player naman ang BF. :)

Aw mao ba? pastilan! makasakit jud og dughan ning mga babayhana! :lol: Hatagi nalang ko og gwapong lalake beh! :)

Uso pala ang ligawan sa mga BPOs? :D
Kung ganun, dapat pala pipiliin mo na ang papasukan mo. Dapat dun ka sa maraming chika babes


Sir bong: tapos na ba yung sa UP-Ayala? Meron daw dun mga BPOs pero kaunte lang

Bid helps RP become top outsourcing destination (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/123787/Bid-helps-RP-become-top-outsourcing-destination#)

Article posted September 29, 2008 - 07:42 PM
MANILA, Philippines - A group of Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) companies will strengthen its global marketing programs to make the country a “top-of-mind" destination for outsourcing."

To combat effects of the current financial turmoil in the United States—the Philippines’ biggest market for outsourcing services—campaigns in the US and Australia are being prepared for early 2009, the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), told GMANews.TV.

While Oscar M. Sanez, BPA/P chief executive officer recognized that BPO operators may experience a bit of a “cooling down," he nevertheless assured that “there will still be growth."

“We are still very positive but watchful of all external events around us," Sañez said. “Investors from US, Europe, India, Singapore and Australia continue to meet with us."

Among the current industries that the BPOs are servicing are telecommunications, technology, power, retail and utilities. Besides banking and finance, many industries are still untapped, he said.

“The market for outsourcing is big—$450 billion—and a significant part of it has not been realized," he added.

In an email, Sanez said the banking and financial vertical market globally is only 10-15% of the addressable market of the estimated $130 billion market in 2010.

Under BPA/P's Offshoring & Outsourcing Roadmap 2010, the Philippines wants a 10% share of that global market by 2010.

The Philippines takes prides of its highly-trainable, English-speaking BPO workers.

Recently, the local BPO sector has not been harping on cost benefits because other countries are offering lower rates. The Philippines is now competing on quality, the local industry has said.

Sanez said the BPO industry is sending a delegation to the National Outsourcing Association (NOA) Conference in the United Kingdom in November. Last year, NOA recognized the Philippines as the Offshoring Destination of the Year.

Earlier, House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles expressed concerns that some of the local industries which are dependent on the US market may be affected by the US crisis.

“We may not feel the effects right away but there are key industries and sectors in the Philippines that are directly linked with the crisis in the US. Our main source of dollar reserve for example comes from remittances of Filipinos in the US and our main source of domestic job placements are business processes outsourcing outfits (BPOs) such as call centers with most clients in the US," Nograles said. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

Creating new IT agency will help generate a million jobs (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/115481/Creating-new-IT-agency-will-help-generate-a-million-jobs#)

VERONICA C. SILVA, GMANews.TV

Article posted August 22, 2008 - 04:19 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Creating a department focused on information and communications technology (ICT) will assist Philippine initiatives to generate a million jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector by 2010.

Initiatives to make the Philippines a major business process outsourcing (BPO) hub in three years “will be much more readily provided if the proposed Department on Information and Communication Technology (DICT) is created," Ovum, a Sydney-based consultancy company, said.

To generate a million jobs and earn $13 billion in revenues, the local BPO sector should attract an estimated 420,000 additional highly-skilled workers, David Mitchell, OVUM senior vice president for IT Research, said.

Mitchell commented on the industry’s goals as indicated in its Offshoring & Outsourcing Roadmap 2010 which intends to secure 10 percent of the global BPO industry by 2010.

“However, the more specialist skills, and the sheer number of different specialist skills that will be needed, are likely to be more difficult to produce without significant support and investment from government in secondary, tertiary and vocational education," said Mitchell.

The Philippine IT industry has been pushing for a DICT as early as the 1990s. In the current Congress, a DICT bill is still undergoing deliberations at the committee level.

The Philippines is only one of a few countries in Asia with no ministerial level ICT agency. The ICT policy making responsibilities lie in at least two agencies—the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), for the telecommunications-related policies, and the Commission on ICT (CICT), an agency under the Office of the President.

Other agencies involved in supporting the ICT sector include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for trade and investment promotions, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for research on ICT.

“If DICT is created, it should rally the ICT economy around a maximum of four capability areas, aiming to create high-value businesses rather than commodity outsourcing capabilities," said Mitchell.

Industry group Business Processing Association of the Philippines is supportive of a DICT believing that such an agency will ensure that the infrastructure for ICT will be in place.

Mitchell said a smaller economy like the Philippines needs to focus its efforts if it wants to compete with BPO powerhouses India and China.

“Smaller economies in emerging markets need to have focus, and avoid competing with larger economies on cost alone," said Mitchell.

He said a DICT can help the Philippines focus and charge premium rates for skills that rare. - GMANews.TV

Uso pala ang ligawan sa mga BPOs? :D
Kung ganun, dapat pala pipiliin mo na ang papasukan mo. Dapat dun ka sa maraming chika babes
Maraming cuties sa BPO industry...girl - boy, straight - bi/gay :okay:


tapos na ba yung sa UP-Ayala? Meron daw dun mga BPOs pero kaunte lang

Are you referring to the Technopark sa QC? When I passed by the area last July, tapos na yun ah! Im not sure though if andun na ang mga BPO locators.

DAMOSA COMPLEX ang IT PARK

One of the best places to work in Davao City, Damosa Complex and IT Park is home to several companies and ITes companies such as a call center. Here, you can literally unwind, shop, dine, play, and work - all in one complex. :okay:

Damosa Update

Air21 & mbtc-damosa
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04304.jpg

Caffe Firenzo & Ristorante Spirale
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04305.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04306.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04307.jpg

Synnex-concentrix
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04308.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04309.jpg

Market Basket - also caters to BPO/call center professionals within the park
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04310.jpg

IT Park - the first IT park in Davao City
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04311.jpg

24hrs dimsum diner
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04312.jpg

Dencios
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04313.jpg

bpi-damosa
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04314.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/nick4ubaby/DSC04315.jpg

^ ah, ok. Kasi sabi sa news, 3 of the biggest BPOs will be have a space there. Intended daw yon for those UP, AdMU and Miriam students who would like to have a part time job. They will also serve as training ground for fresh grads of UP Diliman who are willing to get into the BPO industry. Sa isang blog nabasa ko that a group of 5 friends from UP Engineering are planning to establish a BPO of some sort. Capital required is only 1.5M. So, pwede ka pala mag-tayo ng BPO?

^ ah, ok. Kasi sabi sa news, 3 of the biggest BPOs will be have a space there. Intended daw yon for those UP, AdMU and Miriam students who would like to have a part time job. They will also serve as training ground for fresh grads of UP Diliman who are willing to get into the BPO industry. Sa isang blog nabasa ko that a group of 5 friends from UP Engineering are planning to establish a BPO of some sort. Capital required is only 1.5M. So, pwede ka pala mag-tayo ng BPO?

Don't believe everything that uve read in a blog and news :lol: I'm not familiar of the entire project. Maybe they do have an area for those UP engineering grads who want to establish their own IT business. May ganyan na nga sa Davao City eh. We call it as DAVAO IT incubation center. It's for students or small players who want to establish their own business.

However, one thing is for sure, I believe that Ayala's Technopark in QC is just another commercial IT Park. It may have the noble mission to help the students within that area but by the end of the day - SALES and INCOME parin nasa isip ng mga companies nato. So, i wont agree that it's intended for those students alone, but the IT park is there coz it's a strategic area and the place has an ample amount of space pa for expansion. :okay:

Regarding the pagtatayo ng sariling BPO business. Yes you can! If you know what it takes to operate a BPO business and you have the right connections, then you may open your own BPO business.

By the way, do you have any idea what a BPO is?

^^ DICT has been in the pipeline. I hope this is approved very soon.

Only a little:D

My understanding about it, based on what I've read here so far, is that a BPO is a 3rd party company that sort of bridge the company and the company's clients by providing services through phones or internet. So, in my understanding, any outsourcing company that is tapped by, say, Jollibee to handle their customers, is considered a BPO. However, I don't have any idea how extensive the nature of this industry is. My knowledge about the IT industry is very, very limited. Hehehe.

Sa mga blogs, sir, nabasa ko kasi that ang UP-Ayala ay intended para sa mga spin-ups, newly established IT-related companies at incubator of businesses that have very high potential marketable products most if not all of which are products of the brains of the masteral and doctorate students at UP engineering, sciences and business. Dun sa blog nakalagay na a total of 38 companies are new and are owned by UP students (graduating, masters and doctorate) and UP professors na merong naimbento. parang ganun lang ang nabalitaan ko. Tapos meron din na group of MBA students na nag pair sila with Physics students and they form a company together at dun sila sa UP-Ayala kasi supported sila ng university. Tapos yung ibang funding ay nanggaling sa mga mayayamang investors. Parang, in short, ang UP-Ayala is the center where you can bring your knowledge/invention to look for investors at para mapag-aralan ng mabuti ang ideas mo at baka pweding ma-introduce sa market. Parang sa Silicon Valley sa USA, diba?

^^ I think i got ur drift...ehehehehehe

Ganito bro....the TechnoPark is divided into several components.

UP Ayala Land Technohub - the company is building 10 buildings for tenants, most of them engaged in information technology (IT) business. << eto yung for big businesses such as BPOs.

The Tech Portal will house a technology business incubation (TBI) facility that can host 12 start-up companies whose interests are also in IT. <<< eto na yung sinasabi mo...ehehehehheeh

Anyway, have u been to Davao. We have the same incubation center. It's been existing for 5 years now.

@timoga_lover: I think you're confusing BPO with IT, which involves a third-party company or service that does IT-related activities like, but not limited to, application development and data center operations. Examples of these are companies in Cebu like Lexmark and NEC (where I worked in before I went back to Davao).

BPO, on the other hand, involves hiring another company to handle one's business activities like technical support, etc. Example of these are PS, L2S, etc. BPO is more of an IT-enabled service.

^ Ohhhh, I see. 12 lang pala? 38 na daw ang merong SEC Registration at naka pag apply na for location. Anyway, salamat at medyo na klaro ko na what the facilities are for. Pero ang laki nung lugar, bat 12 lang?

Yes, I have been to Davao sometime in 2002, but we were only there for a day. Dumaan lang kami sa city kasi ang punta namin talaga was Pearl Farm. (sakay pa kami ng bangka nun. sarap!) Elementary pa ako nun at naalala ko, bago pa ang SM nun. I fell in love with the place nung naikot na namin. Malawak, malaki, maayos ang kalsada, malinis, mababait ang mga tao, tahimik, hindi over-crowded at polluted tulad sa ibang malalaking syudad at maraming mapapasyalan. Marami rin dorian pero bawal naman dalhin sa loob ng hotel. labo. hehehe...

^^ Thus ngayon, we have IT and ITes industries :okay:

@timoga_lover: I think you're confusing BPO with IT, which involves a third-party company or service that does IT-related activities like, but not limited to, application development and data center operations. Examples of these are companies in Cebu like Lexmark and NEC (where I worked in before I went back to Davao).

BPO, on the other hand, involves hiring another company to handle one's business activities like technical support, etc. Example of these are PS, L2S, etc. BPO is more of an IT-enabled service.

Oo nga eh. parang nag halo-halo na sa utak ko. :lol:

Sigi lang po mga sirs, as I keep reading on your posts here, I get the idea gradually.

Thanks po sa inyong lahat. This is quite a very informative thread. Nag email na pala ang pinsan ko kanina daw nya ni send. Sana he gets the nod.

Sa mga taga Davao dito, mataas po ba ang standard of living dyan? Like how much would a room (or an appartment) cost per month for a student?

^^ mababa lang ang cost of living sa Davao City :okay:

Gusto ko ng mag apply tuloy sa Ateneo de Davao. hehehe... Marami bang students dyan from outside Davao City?

Mga magkano ang rent sa appartment dyan?

^^ Thus ngayon, we have IT and ITes industries :okay:

Yes, you're right :) I just hope the IT industry in Davao will also experience the same growth as its BPO industry.

Yes, you're right :) I just hope the IT industry in Davao will also experience the same growth as its BPO industry.

I second that! :)

Perot Systems widens healthcare BPO deal (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081001-163961/Perot-Systems-widens-healthcare-BPO-deal)

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081001-163961/Perot-Systems-widens-healthcare-BPO-deal)
First Posted 13:48:00 10/01/2008

MANILA, Philippines – Texas-based outsourcing firm Perot Systems said it has renewed a service contract with US-based client athenahealth, a deal likely to benefit its Philippine operations.

The company, founded by American billionaire Ross Perot, said it has been awarded a five-year extension by athenahealth, which provides Web-based services for doctors.

Under the agreement, Perot Systems will continue to provide revenue cycle and clinical data capture services. The company set up its local office in March 2007, primarily supporting clients in the healthcare industry.

Locally, the company currently employs some 300 workers doing revenue cycle operations for healthcare providers, said Anurag Jain, president of Perot Systems' business process solutions and applications solutions groups.

The company occupies two floors at the Enterprise Center along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

Perot Systems reported $2.6 billion revenues in 2007. The company employs more than 23,000 workers located in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific.


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081001-163961/Perot-Systems-widens-healthcare-BPO-deal

so sayang pala yung degree ko sa nuclear physics kapag ng BPO ako? =D

eh d sa KPOs ka mag apply :D

^^ kung ako naman ang isang doctor, mag KPO na lang ako kesa mag-abortion.

^^ what's being a doctor got to do with abortion?

WgS1ayh8bbI

International Real Estate Services Firms dubbed the Philippines, the HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET in Southeast Asia

How upbeat are the BPO and ITes industries in Davao City? These facilities may give you an idea.

BPO and IT Parks/Centers in Davao City

1.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvonccc.jpg
^^- NCCC Mall IT Pavilion
- home of Western Wats



2.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvoluisa.jpg
- Luisa Avenue Square
- home of Sutherland Global Center. Also home of PeopleSupport Recruitment and Training Center.



3.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvodamosa.jpg
^^- DAMOSA IT Park
- home of Concentrix and other ITes companies



4.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvolandco.jpg
^^- Landco Corporate Tower
- home of Callbox Inc., also hq of Qualiserv (both are contact center facilities)



5.)http://neodavao.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/cctldavao.jpg
^^- ANC Corporate Center
- home of Cyber City Teleserv Center



6.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvopryce.jpg
^^- Pryce Tower
- Sitel Career Center



7.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvotumble.jpg
^^- Tumble Tots Center
- home of JIB eAcademy and Solutions and the company's own contact center: Six Eleven Global Solutions.



8.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvoudenna.jpg
^^- Udenna BPO Park
- SureRecruit Training Center (contact center training facility)


9.) http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvodamcent.jpg
^^ - Damosa Business Center
- built for software development outfits, telecoms providers, research & development firms.



10.)http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/_dvometro.jpg
^^- Metro Lifestyle Complex
- with a contact center facility at its 3rd and 4th floors.

u/c IT/BPO Parks or Centers

- Robinsons Cybergate Davao by Robinsons Land Corp.
- Abreeza's BPO Building One by Ayala Land Inc.
- Abreeza's BPO Building Two by Ayala Land Inc.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2903385917_01f0c99f0b.jpg?v=0

Convergys opens Bacolod site, plans five more call centers

BACOLOD — New York Stock Exchange-listed outsroucing firm Convergys Corp. seeks to open five more call centers in the country and add 6,000 workers between now and next year.

The company, which launched its ninth call center in the Philippines here in rites attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, said it was eyeing a second facility in Cebu.

Other potential call center cites are Diliman, Quezon City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; San Lazaro, Manila; and Glorietta 5 in Makati City.

Convergys employs 14,000 Filipino workers at its nine call centers, six of which are in Metro Manila. In Bacolod, it employs 700 people and aims to increase this to 1,000 by yearend.

Andrea Ayers, president for customer management, said the Philippines has been a successful location for Convergys.

"With the nature of our business, we have known all through the five years of our existence that our strength here is a reflection of the very high-quality workforce. I can say that Convergys’ success in the Philippines continues to be based in large part on our employees here," she said.

The company’s Bacolod site is located at One SanParq Square, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas.

"We are always looking at new locations," said Marife Zamora, Convergys vice-president and country manager. "None of [the five centers to be opened] are in Bacolod City, but we will continue to monitor the labor market and the success of the first center here," she added.

The 6,000-square meter facility includes a contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, language laboratory, cafeteria and a common area for employees. — Nanette L. Guadalquiver

^^that was a very long proposal since 2005 pa together w/ Eventus-PLDT but now glad ExcelAsia comes a reality,,,i posted it from the bacolod thread 8
^^
yeah, it is now a reality.:cheers:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2904230136_06c817a752.jpg?v=0
HIRING MORE!!!!:banana::banana::banana:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2903385917_01f0c99f0b.jpg?v=0

Convergys opens Bacolod site, plans five more call centers

BACOLOD — New York Stock Exchange-listed outsroucing firm Convergys Corp. seeks to open five more call centers in the country and add 6,000 workers between now and next year.

The company, which launched its ninth call center in the Philippines here in rites attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, said it was eyeing a second facility in Cebu.

Other potential call center cites are Diliman, Quezon City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; San Lazaro, Manila; and Glorietta 5 in Makati City.

Convergys employs 14,000 Filipino workers at its nine call centers, six of which are in Metro Manila. In Bacolod, it employs 700 people and aims to increase this to 1,000 by yearend.

Andrea Ayers, president for customer management, said the Philippines has been a successful location for Convergys.

"With the nature of our business, we have known all through the five years of our existence that our strength here is a reflection of the very high-quality workforce. I can say that Convergys’ success in the Philippines continues to be based in large part on our employees here," she said.

The company’s Bacolod site is located at One SanParq Square, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas.

"We are always looking at new locations," said Marife Zamora, Convergys vice-president and country manager. "None of [the five centers to be opened] are in Bacolod City, but we will continue to monitor the labor market and the success of the first center here," she added.

The 6,000-square meter facility includes a contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, language laboratory, cafeteria and a common area for employees. — Nanette L. Guadalquiver

http://www.ebrokenshire.com/images/bls/bls2.jpg
^^ Davao ICT Incubation Center

It is only the second technology incubation center in the country, after UP-Ayala Technology Park in Luzon.

This ICT incubation center is a joint venture between 3G Communications and Brokershire Learning Systems, Inc. Location services and developing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) relating to technology businesses is one of the focuses of the organization. BLS has 14 colorful container vans with the specific purpose of assisting and developing technology-oriented SMEs until they become full-fledged businesses. For more information, please email bls@ebrokenshire.com.

Just this hour: Singapore-based Channel News Asia reported that the PHILIPPINES is the HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET in SOUTHEAST ASIA!


:banana::cheers::banana::cheers:

Gusto ko ng mag apply tuloy sa Ateneo de Davao. hehehe... Marami bang students dyan from outside Davao City?

Mga magkano ang rent sa appartment dyan?

:hi: yes there are many students from the outside world...j/k
yes there are many students from other places, students who are seeking degree which are not offered in their places...you can see boarding houses, apartments...etc...situated near the schools...i reckon they chose davao city, because of its cosmopolitan environment...

way back 2002, the cost of the apartment was P3,000 monthly...thats near Davao Doctors College and AMA Computer Davao College...this apartment has 2BR, and of course you got living, dining, bath rooms and a kitchen area and a veranda.:) and if you got a car, there is also a parking area...

Nope. Sa may likod mi sa Shopwise, tong dating Rustan's Superstore Building.


close na pala ang Rustans sa araneta?

If i'm straight....liligawan ko yung girl sa right most side ng pic. yung green ang earrings. :D However, im bi...so pwede pa rin :)

hehe...the question is, is she already taken?:)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2903385917_01f0c99f0b.jpg?v=0

Convergys opens Bacolod site, plans five more call centers

BACOLOD — New York Stock Exchange-listed outsroucing firm Convergys Corp. seeks to open five more call centers in the country and add 6,000 workers between now and next year.

The company, which launched its ninth call center in the Philippines here in rites attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, said it was eyeing a second facility in Cebu.

Other potential call center cites are Diliman, Quezon City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; San Lazaro, Manila; and Glorietta 5 in Makati City.

Convergys employs 14,000 Filipino workers at its nine call centers, six of which are in Metro Manila. In Bacolod, it employs 700 people and aims to increase this to 1,000 by yearend.

Andrea Ayers, president for customer management, said the Philippines has been a successful location for Convergys.

"With the nature of our business, we have known all through the five years of our existence that our strength here is a reflection of the very high-quality workforce. I can say that Convergys’ success in the Philippines continues to be based in large part on our employees here," she said.

The company’s Bacolod site is located at One SanParq Square, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas.

"We are always looking at new locations," said Marife Zamora, Convergys vice-president and country manager. "None of [the five centers to be opened] are in Bacolod City, but we will continue to monitor the labor market and the success of the first center here," she added.

The 6,000-square meter facility includes a contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, language laboratory, cafeteria and a common area for employees. — Nanette L. Guadalquiver


Whoa...Nice and clean...Congrats to Bacolod.

Gusto ko ng mag apply tuloy sa Ateneo de Davao. hehehe... Marami bang students dyan from outside Davao City?

Mga magkano ang rent sa appartment dyan?

depende yan sa location and quality ng apartment bai. kung apartment talaga at hindi boarding house, maybe range from 3,000 to 15,000.

thanks @sleepwalker. :)

Monday, May 10, 2004 - 9:04 am ET
PR Newswire

400 Seat Center in Central Philippine City of Dumaguete (http://www.epixtar.com/release05102004.asp)

MIAMI - May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Epixtar Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: EPXR - News) today announced that its Philippine subsidiary has signed a letter of intent, subject to final approval, to lease approximately 2,600 square meters (about 28,000 sq. ft.) of new office space. The future call center site, to be constructed this year, is anticipated to be ready for occupancy within 12 months. It is located in the city of Dumaguete, which is the capital of Negros Oriental, a province in the Visayan Island region of the country. The developer, July Development Corporation, will build the three- story structure according to the specifications provided by Epixtar.

Epixtar believes it is the first call center company to commit to locating in Dumaguete, a city with three major universities. The Company has formed an alliance with Foundation University whereby Epixtar executives will guest lecture at the school's business college and the University will provide placement assistance for the Company. When fully staffed, Epixtar will likely be the largest private sector employer in Dumaguete.

Full story (http://www.epixtar.com/release05102004.asp).

Just reminiscing this press release that I also read from the BusinessWorld one week later. It made me really excited and in put me in high spirits. If realized, this callcenter would have been the first outside Metro Manila and Cebu. But we waited four months, five months, 1 year, and this callcenter hadn't been realized. Until...

October 11, 2005

October 11, 2005. Miami, FL. Epixtar Corp. (“EPXR.OB”), together with all of its significant United States subsidiaries, filed in the Miami Federal Bankruptcy Court on October 6, 2005 for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. A similar filing was made in the Philippines on October 7, 2005 on behalf of the Company’s Philippine subsidiary.

“The action is the necessary and responsible step to preserve Epixtar’s value for our creditors, customers, employees, business partners and other stakeholders as we address our financial challenges and work to secure our future,” said Martin Miller, Epixtar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Epixtar is open for business as usual and will continue normal operations throughout the reorganization process. Our first priority remains our clients- we are committed to continue to provide them with the quality service that they have come to expect from Epixtar.”

Full story. (http://www.epixtar.com/release10112005.asp)

The supposed entry of Epixtar put us in high spirits underlining the viability of Dumaguete as one of the country's most ideal centers for offshoring. While waiting in vain for the realization of this callcenter, we were surprised that SPi suddenly announced that it would set up a site here, the first outside Manila, and is now the largest BPO center in Negros Oriental. And of course, Teletech came in, and another contact center came in a few months ago. Still others are planning to establish their presence here. As it is now, Dumaguete is turning up to be one of the country's most viable outsourcing centers because of the presence of high quality educational institutions in the area.

Sep 04, 2006

Washington, DC, September 4, 2006— SPi, a global provider of editorial, content production and BPO solutions for publishers, today announced the opening of two new, state-of-the-art delivery centers in India and the Philippines. As a result of SPi’s rapid growth and the increased demand for its services, SPi sees these purpose-built facilities as significant steps in positioning itself to meet its customers’ needs.

The new Philippine-based office, which is located in Dumaguete, allows SPi to effectively expand upon the content production and editorial services being provided by its Manila-based Journal operation. This 20,000 square foot purpose-built facility accommodates over 550 content specialists providing XML structuring, typesetting, and copyediting services to a growing list of journal publishers worldwide. Both the Dumaguete and Pondicherry facilities include many state-of-the-art features like internet-enabled training and testing rooms, ergonomically designed work stations and spacious recreational areas.

Full story. (http://www.spitech.com/web/spi/press_release_detail.jsp?fldr_id=236&sideBoxFldrID=0&service=_Show_All&contentId=1599)

^These two news items defined the BPO industry in Dumaguete nowadays making it a very bankable IT hub. SPi's presence defines the maturity of Dumaguete as a BPO location and is a testament to the high quality of its human resources. BPO, along with medical transcription and other BPO fields, are notch higher than callcenter in the BPO industry ladder as they require more knowledge and skills.

^^ yeah, the video above your post says the same thing

Philippines' outsourcing industry to gain from US economic slowdown (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=philippines&id=379211)
Channel NewsAsia's Philippine Correspondent Christine Ong

MANILA: The economic slowdown in the United States is likely to boost the Philippines ' outsourcing industry. The country is aiming for a 10 percent share of the US$130 billion global market.

Round-the-clock construction work of new office buildings is sweeping across the Philippines .

At McKinley Hill, 15 hectares has been set aside for an information technology park, which will house business process outsourcing (BPO) offices costing almost US$260 million.

Investments like these have led international real estate services firms to dub the Philippines as the hottest real estate market in Southeast Asia.

Vice-chairman of CB Richard Ellis Philippines , Joey Radovan, said: "Our neighbours in Asia right now, the property value is actually very high compared to the Philippines . We are probably three to five times cheaper in terms of space."

Outsourcing firms now account for more than 60 percent of the office spaces in the central business district of Makati.

With the current economic slowdown in the United States, more and more companies are now turning to outsourcing to save on costs. That is why the Philippines ' outsourcing industry is confident it will earn at least US$7 billion in 2008, a 40 percent increase from last year.

The Philippines is seeking to corner a 10 per cent share of the US$130 billion business process outsourcing global market by 2010.

First vice-president of Megaworld Corporation, Jericho Go, said: "Despite what has been happening globally, they continue to have customers so if they won't be able to service that from the US because costs are prohibitive, then they have to look for a cheaper or a more affordable area to outsource, and certainly the Philippines is on top of the list."

The government has established the Philippine Cyber Corridor initiative to encourage more offshoring and outsourcing firms to set up shop in other regions.

CEO of Processing Association of the Philippines , Oscar Sanez, said: "The Philippines is global number two now in BPO and I think not many are aware of that. We would like to think that we are part of the solution in this whole issue of slowdown. We are in fact offering the Philippine solution.

"Consider the Philippines in your strategy, and the strategy of the company will be how to survive in this whole environment where costs are being challenged and the revenue targets continue to be very stringent."

One of the industries that the country is targeting now is the engineering services outsourcing global market, which is worth US$100 billion.

The Philippines also wants to take advantage of the growth of the real estate industries in the Middle East and Europe.

CEO of Environments Global, Antony Zubiri, said: "We're doing a township in the Middle East. We're doing a mall in Europe. We're doing housing projects and building complexes in Australia. It is our vision to be able to establish the Philippines as the destination for design process delivery worldwide."

The government is hoping to generate 1.5 million jobs by 2010 with the growing demand for business process outsourcing in the country.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2903385917_01f0c99f0b.jpg?v=0

Convergys opens Bacolod site, plans five more call centers

BACOLOD — New York Stock Exchange-listed outsroucing firm Convergys Corp. seeks to open five more call centers in the country and add 6,000 workers between now and next year.

The company, which launched its ninth call center in the Philippines here in rites attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, said it was eyeing a second facility in Cebu.

if theyre eyeing another facility in cebu i think it will be their third, there is already an existing convergys facility in arcenas estate park and IT park.

‘BPOs helping country
weather a global crisis’
BY NANETTE GUADALQUIVER

Convergys Corp. yesterday hailed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her continued support to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry which has resulted in the continued success of BPO locators in the Philippines.

“We would like to thank the President for making time with us here again in Bacolod. Here is the reason why the Convergys business is very successful in the Philippines – the support of the Philippine government has been outstanding,” Convergys Corp. president Andrea Ayers said.

Ayers made the statement in her welcome remarks after the President cut the ceremonial ribbon at the main entrance of One San Parq building and unveiled the company marker at its new contact center in Bacolod City.

In response, the President commended Convergys for its continued confidence in the capability of the Philippines to host several investors, particularly those in the BPO industry, despite the recent global crisis.

“May I say that Convergys is one of the reasons why the Philippine economy is successfully weathering the global crisis,” the President replied to Ayers.

The growth of Convergys Corp., particularly in the Philippines, is a good sign amid the global financial crisis, Kate Kossmann of Convergys Corporate Communications said.

“We’re doing everything to make sure the growth continues,” Kossmann said.

The Bacolod center, its ninth in the Philippines, now has 700 employees, and its workforce is expected to increase to a thousand by the end of 2008.

In the Philippines, it employs 14,000 workers and aims to have 20,000 workers after it opens five more centers in the country by 2009.

The five new centers will soon be opened in Cebu, its second facility in the area; Diliman, Quezon City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; San Lazaro, Manila; and Glorietta 5 in Makati City. It has six centers in Metro Manila.

“We are always looking at new locations,” Marife Zamora, vice president and country manager, said. “None (of the five) are in Bacolod City, but we will continue to monitor the labor market and the success of the first center here.”

Its Bacolod center is located at One SanParq Square, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered Information Technology Center in Western Visayas.

The 6,000-square meter facility includes the contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, an advanced language laboratory, cafeteria, and a common area for employees.

“With our new facility here, we continue to tap the tremendous pool of resources available in the Philippines,” Zamora added.*NLG

^^Baka yan nga ang sa IT park ang ibig sabihin ng sumulat

Dito sa Iligan it's ranging from 4k to 7k lang. ang mahal dyan sa Davao.:D

Mgakano ang lodging house kung sakali pupunta kami dyan and would stay for 4 days? Yung cheapest na pang students lang pero malinis. Dito sa Iligan merong 280/300 at maganda na.

Yes it is. Submission of resumes and initial interviews are normally done through phone. You may submit your resume through jobsdb and jobstreet. If you wish to have your resume sent to a number of BPOs here in Metro Manila with no sweat, try www.pinoyagents.com :okay: However, please take note that the entire recruitment process (exams, phone simulation, etc) will be done personally and not through the phone.



Here's a typical recruitment process:

- initial phone interview
- grammar exam
- typing skills (other callcenters dont have this exam)
- active listening exam (other callcenters dont have this exam)
- final interview
- phone simulation / mock call
- job offer


Yes, we do have.


Depende sa account mo. Pero, eto yung flow ng training:

Accent Neutralization Training/ Communication Skills Training / Language and Culture Training - 1 to 2 weeks

Product Specs Training/ Account Specific - 3 to 4 weeks.



You have to be fluent verbally. Wala silang paki-alam kung ala Shakespeare ang written communication skill mo or ala manager ang business writing skill ng isang applicant. Ang pinaka-importante is the way you communicate verbally. Avoid fillers like uhmmm ahhhh, refrain from using Filipinoism, and you have to talk with confidence.



No! You don't have to sound like an american. You dont need to have a twang. In fact, most of the contact centers would prefer someone who has a neutral accent. With my previous contact center, 24/7 Customers (www.247customer.com) and PeopleSupport (www.peoplesupport.com), our QAs (people monitoring the calls) will flag you down or coach you up if they'd hear an agent imitating an American accent. Kc halata naman pagpinifake mo eh. And the more you fake it, the more you wont be understood by the caller. Kaya, be natural and mas maganda ang neutral accent. You want to start studying how a neutral accent would go? try watching cnn. :okay:



But as you work with these americans sa phone, eventually, you will absorb their accent naturally. Sometimes when I talk with my friends (from outside of the industry), they would actually tease my accent. Sobrang slang daw. But i didnt do that intentionally. I've been with the industry for 4 years. You're accent would actually improve naturally. Just imagine, you're talking with these americans the whole time during your work, the whole week, and the whole life that you will be in the contact center industry. Pagpasok mo sa work, EOP kaagad or English Only Policy. So you would eventually absorb their culture, the way they talk - speed and accent, etc.



Hmmm...it's really unethical to talk about salaries.....eheheheheh If you'll ask around our industry, you would definitely receive different answers. But lemme give you atleast a range; that's between 12K to 30K and is dependent on your account, your company, and your experience in the industry.

Here are the big names in the contact center industry (in random order):

Convergys
Sykes
PeopleSupport
Teletech
e-Telecare

Although these companies are considered as pillars of the contact center industry in the Philippines, that doesnt mean that malaki ang offer nila sa basic salary. It would play between 12K (for newbies on training) to 15K (once regularized). Pero yung sahod mo, hindi naman stuck jan eh. We do have annual salary increase and it will be based on your performance, we have bonuses, we have incentives, and allowances.

Here are the high paying contact centers in the industry:

Dell
IBM
247 Customers
Stellar
JP Morgan
GE (Alabamg)
Deutche
and others

Salary range is between 21K to 30K. But most of the time, they prefer seasoned or experienced contact center agents.

If you wish to have a career in the industry (become a manager or a supervisor) or be part of the pioneering teams, these are some of the new contact centers in the Philippine shore but been established for along time now abroad.

vCustomer
WiPro
StarTek
Sear

:okay: The companies I have mentioned above are located in Metro Manila. Some of these have branches in Cebu. If you dont want to leave Mindanao but still what to have a career in our industry, I suggest you go to Davao City. Davao City has a number of big contact centers such as

- Sutherland Global
- Western Wats
- Sitel (still on the process of establishing their operations in Davao City)
- Concentrix

May iba pang callcenters sa Davao but I didnt include them in the list (small ones). Those 4 above are considered as few of the big players in the Philippine contact center industry.


I just spoke with my kuya and he told me the company has already contacted him and was asking him to go back to Manila for the tests/exams which would run for 3 days daw. Couldn't he apply directly to the BPOs there?

Dito sa Iligan it's ranging from 4k to 7k lang. ang mahal dyan sa Davao.:D

Mgakano ang lodging house kung sakali pupunta kami dyan and would stay for 4 days? Yung cheapest na pang students lang pero malinis. Dito sa Iligan merong 280/300 at maganda na.

cheaper naman ang 3k compared sa 4k...anyways, para makatipid talaga, boarding house is your friend.

^ May morang inn po ba dyan? magkano kaya ang student rate per day?

^^ ang alam ko may tig 250/single non-air sa MY Hotel a newly renovated hotel

Yung mga BPO companies shown on pictures above are located near the city center?

dinabaw: tanong ng kuya ko, pwede po ba siyang magpunta sa Davao at mag apply directly to the BPO companies?

^^ why not? as long as preperado siya .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2903385917_01f0c99f0b.jpg?v=0

Convergys opens Bacolod site, plans five more call centers

BACOLOD — New York Stock Exchange-listed outsroucing firm Convergys Corp. seeks to open five more call centers in the country and add 6,000 workers between now and next year.

The company, which launched its ninth call center in the Philippines here in rites attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, said it was eyeing a second facility in Cebu.

Other potential call center cites are Diliman, Quezon City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; San Lazaro, Manila; and Glorietta 5 in Makati City.

Convergys employs 14,000 Filipino workers at its nine call centers, six of which are in Metro Manila. In Bacolod, it employs 700 people and aims to increase this to 1,000 by yearend.

Andrea Ayers, president for customer management, said the Philippines has been a successful location for Convergys.

"With the nature of our business, we have known all through the five years of our existence that our strength here is a reflection of the very high-quality workforce. I can say that Convergys’ success in the Philippines continues to be based in large part on our employees here," she said.

The company’s Bacolod site is located at One SanParq Square, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas.

"We are always looking at new locations," said Marife Zamora, Convergys vice-president and country manager. "None of [the five centers to be opened] are in Bacolod City, but we will continue to monitor the labor market and the success of the first center here," she added.

The 6,000-square meter facility includes a contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, language laboratory, cafeteria and a common area for employees. — Nanette L. Guadalquiver
^^
i really like your picture of Convergys Bacolod, @SUV111....
great shot!:cheers:

^^

More call centers to come... as I predicted, the slow down is to our advantage. :)

^^ yeah, the video above your post says the same thing

that's even better. can we request the forumer to put a heading on the video post? this is great news. that, by the way, is part one of the series. i'm waiting for part two.

^^ Please don't forget to post the vid. :wink2:

Convergys’ new Bacolod center to employ 1,000 by yearend (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Nation&p=49&type=2&sec=28&aid=20081002113)
Friday, October 3, 2008

BACOLOD CITY – Convergys Corp., a global leader in relationship management, said it plans to employ up to 1,000 workers in its integrated contact center here by yearend. 

The new facility was launched yesterday in a colorful ceremony with President Arroyo as guest of honor.

Located at One Sanparq, San Antonio Square along Lacson street, the new contact center currently employs 700 local residents. 

With this new site, Convergys now has nine of the largest, multi-client, US-company-owned contact centers in the Philippines. 

The company has two centers in Cebu and six in Metro Manila. As one of the largest and most recognized employers in the country today, Convergys maintains a workforce of over 14,000 Filipino professionals.

“There have been indications all along the way that the Philippines is a hugely successful locale for Convergys, and with the nature of our business, we have known through all five years of our existence here that our strength here is a reflection of the very high-quality workforce,” said Andrea Ayers, Convergys president for customer management.

“That’s why I can say that Convergys’ success in the Philippines continues to be based in large part on our employees here. They are our greatest asset and we are so proud of all of our employees and their accomplishments,” Ayers added.

The 6,000-square-meter Bacolod facility encompasses the contact center, administrative offices, recruitment and training rooms, an advanced language laboratory, a cafeteria, and common areas for employees.

It is outfitted to international standards with ergonomically designed furniture for contact center work, state-of-the-art generators, and specialized lighting.

Convergys eyes 1,000 workers in Bacolod
Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Convergys is targeting to employ at least a thousand workers by yearend in its newest call center in Bacolod City.

The Ohio-based outsourcing firm launched its Bacolod City operations Wednesday with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attending the formal rites.

Located in One Sanparq, San Antonio Square along Lacson Street, Convergys' 6,000-square meter facility currently employs some 700 agents since hiring started a few months ago.

Convergys now has nine call centers in the Philippines employing more than 14,000 workers. The company has six call centers in Metro Manila and two in Cebu.

Bacolod is the capital city of Negros Occidental and has attracted call center investments including Convergys and TeleTech, two of the largest industry players.

The local government has been aggressively promoting Bacolod it as an outsourcing destination after becoming one of government-certified "next-wave" cities for BPO investments.

^^ Please don't forget to post the vid. :wink2:

the first part is on this thread page, post #584. maybe Gors has seen part 2 and has a vid :)

^^
i really like your picture of Convergys Bacolod, @SUV111....
great shot!:cheers:

thanks @fly, i forgot to remove the wire

BPO/Call Center in Cebu as of July 2008

1.) 724Care (Cebu) Address:
724Care Inc. Cebu City, Philippines

2.) Access Direct Teksolutions Cebu
Access Direct Teksolutions, Inc. (ADTI)
Bayantel Telecommunications Bldg.
Jakosalem Street, Cebu City,
Philipines


3.) ADD Force Cebu
ADD Group of Companies
Door B-Binamira Bldg.,
Gorordo Avanue, Cebu City
Philippines

032.412.6322
032.231.3550

4.) Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc. Cebu
Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc.
F. Ramos Street Cebu City 6000
Philippines


5.) Blue Sky Trading Co., Inc. Cebu
Blue Sky Trading Co., Inc.
58-60 Plaridel St
Cebu City Philippines
ZIP Code (6000)
P.O. BOX 217

6.) Brightpoint Philippines, Inc. Cebu
Brightpoint Philippines, Inc.
Service Centre
2nd Floor BF Building, N. Escario St.,
Cebu City, Philippines 6000

7.) Calltek Center Int'l Inc Cebu
Calltek Center Int'l Inc
JY Square IT Center
Cebu City
Philippines

8.) Cebu Global Teleservices Cebu
Cebu Global Teleservices
2/F Mango Square Complex
Gen. Maxilom Avenue
Cebu City
Philippines

Phone: (032) 412 6375
(032) 412 6366
(032) 412 6376

9.) Convergys Corporation Cebu
Convergys Corporation
R. Arcenas Street
Arcenas Estates
Banawa Hills
Cebu City 6000
Philippines


10.) Data Center Design Corporation (DCDC) Cebu
Data Center Design Corporation (DCDC)
1329 corner Guadalupe Heights & V. Rama Avenue
Guadalupe, Cebu City
Philippines

11.) Enabling Solutions, Inc. Cebu
Enabling Solutions, Inc.
Rm. 205 2nd Flr. Oftana Bldg. Capitol
Cebu City 6000 Philippines


12.) eTelecare Global Solutions Cebu
eTelecare Global Solutions
5th & 6th Floor PIPC Engineering Sciences Building
Asiatown IT Park, Brgy. Apas, Lahug
Cebu City 6000
Cebu, Philippines
Tel: 63 (32) 411-9030

13.) ExcelAsia Cebu
ExcelAsia
424 Wee Building
Gorordo Avenue
Lahug, Cebu City
Philippines
Tel.: (032) 231-4917
Fax: (032) 231-4917


14.) Foxgate Solutions (Cebu)
Piazza Elesia Center
Talamban, Cebu City
Philippines 6000
Phone: (6332) 3448244
Fax: (6332) 3458140
15.) Giedo LLC Cebu
Giedo LLC
Cebu, Philippines
16.) Goldtelecomm Specialist, Inc. Cebu
Goldtelecomm Specialist, Inc.
2nd Floor Suite 203-204
The QC Pavilion Gorordo Avenue
Lahug Cebu City
Philippines
17.) ICapital, Inc. Cebu
ICapital Inc
Suite 1201
12th Floor Ayala Life FGU CENTER
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City Philippines 6000
18.) iCatchIT, Inc. Cebu
iCatchIT, Inc.
Suite 5, Park Terrace Bldg.
Nasipit Talamban
Cebu City, 6000 Philippines
Tel Nos:
Phone : (6332) 345-0567
Fax : (6332) 346-9038
19.) iComm International Cebu
iComm International
Unit 906 Keppel Center
Samar Loop Cardinal Rosales Ave.
Cebu Business Park, 6000 Cebu City
Philippines
20.) iNTOUCH Cebu
316-C Gen. Maxilom Ave.,Cebu 6000
Philippines
Phone: +63 322 544 025
Fax: +63 322 540 128
21.) Lexysoft Cebu
Lexysoft Corp.
Lexysoft Technology Center
Humabon Avenue, North Rec. Area
Cebu City, Philippines
Phone: +630322336350
22.) Live Service Cebu
Live Service
The Call Center of the Philippines
Basak, LapuLapu City,
Cebu, Philippines
23.) Live2Sell (Cebu)
5th Flr, Hyundai Bldg
A.S. Fortuna St
Mandaue City 6014
Cebu, Philippines
Phone: +63 32 345 1734
Fax: +63 32 345 1735
24.) MT LINK Asia, Inc. Cebu
MT Link Asia
Northgate Center, Banilad,
Cebu City, Philippines
U.S. Toll Free number 1-888-780-0278
Philippine Number: +6332 4162754
25.) Northern Transcriptionworks, Inc. Cebu
Northern Transcriptionworks, Inc.
Osmena Boulevard cor. J. Llorente St.
Cebu City, Philippines
26.) Oracy Concepts Cebu
Oracy Concepts
Cebu City
Philippines
27.) Pacific Global Outsource Solutions, Inc. Cebu
Pacific Global Outsource Solutions, Inc.
Unit 601 PDI Condominium
Archbishop Reyes Avenue
Banilad, Cebu City
Philippines 6000
28.) PeopleSupport Cebu
PeopleSupport
eOffice 1, AsiaTown IT Park,
Apas, Cebu City, Philippines
29.) Qualfone Cebu
Qualfon Philippines Inc.

6th Floor Skyrise Bldg Asiatown IT Park Lahug, Cebu City 6000
Philippines
30.) Shem Data Cebu
Shem Data Corp.

Beside Cebu Coliseum
Sanciangco St.
Cebu 6000, Philippines

Mobile: +63917 4688107
Fax: +6332 – 2619784
31.) Sykes Asia, Inc. Cebu
Sykes Asia, Inc.
KRC Commerical Building 1
National Highway, Subangdaku
Mandaue City, Cebu
Philippines
32.) Touch Asia Contact Solutions, Inc. Cebu
Touch Asia Contact Solutions, Inc.
Unit A 15th floor, Metrobank Plaza Bldg.,
Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City Philippines
33.) Trends & Technologies Cebu
Trends & Technologies Inc.

3/F Ongtiak Business Center
65 General Maxilom Avenue
6000 Cebu City
Philippines

Tel: +63 32 412.4653, 253.7175
Fax: +63 32 253.4789
34.) Tricom Systems Cagayan De Oro
Tricom Systems

Moreno Building, Gusa Highway,
Cagayan de Oro City
Philippines

Tel: (8822) 733-158, (8822) 733-273
Fax: (88) 855-5388
35.) Tricom Systems Cebu
Tricom Systems

Machay Building, 30 Gorordo Avenue,
Cebu City
Philippines

Phone: (32) 231-5117
(32) 233-7785,
(32) 232-6391

Fax: (32) 231-0681
36.) Virtual Telecare (Cebu)
Telecom Appointments
R Duterte Street - Floor 3
Cebu City, Cebu 6000
Philippines

37.) Voiceville Communications (Cebu)
Voiceville Bldg,
119 T. Padilla St.
Cebu City
Philippines 6000
Phone: +63 32 253 0946
38.) WebFocus Solutions Inc. Cebu
WebFocus Solutions Inc.
M & E Bldg.
46 J. Alcantara St. Unit R-05
Cebu City, Philippines
39.) Western Wats Cebu
Western Wats Phils
Mactan Economic Zone II
Cebu City Philippines
40.) Xsolus Cebu
Xsolus
2/F 90 General Maxilom Avenue
Cebu City 6000
Philippines
Phone: +63-32-253-0337
Fax: +63-32-253-0337
41.) Zzubo Systems, Inc. Cebu
Zzubo Systems, Inc.
10/F CIFC Tower
Juan Luna Ave., cor. Jose L. Briones St.
North Reclamation Area
Cebu City, Philippines 6000
42.) Wipro, Cebu
Cebu Commercial Tower
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City, Philippines 6000


Wow, ang dami. Alin dito ang mataas magpa sweldo?

3,000 seats for Call Center
Written by Michin


Davao City is inevitably growing their success in Call Center Industry. 2,500 seats have reached and the target seat is 3,000.

Moreover, foreingers are attracted in a suitable place of Davao City to be the hub for BPO industry. One of tehse, is the Asutralian group.

According to Bert Barriga, vice president for external affair of the ICT Davao Inc., there are already 18 big and small call center companies in Davao City. Seven of tehm are considered big call centers such as the CyberCity, Sutherland, Concentrix (formerly Link2Support), the Western Wats, Callbox, Qualiserve, and Global Connect.

Certainly, this growing project is beneficial in Davao City and the potential workers as well. Davao City is lucky and grateful for its conducive place for Call Center Industry and BPO Industry.

source (http://www.callcenterphilippines.net/newsflashes/news-blog/3000-seats-for-call-center.html)

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced on Friday that a New York-based call center firm invested millions of dollars in new technology for their Philippine operations.

In an unannounced briefing at the Palace, the President presented to reporters iQor President and Chief Executive Office Vikas Kapoor who demonstrated FeAther, a biometric system that the firm developed.

The meeting was initially limited to photo coverage.

The President bannered the new investment a day after she made her economic managers face the Malacañang press and a hearing at the House of Representatives to allay fears over the impact of a looming recession in the United States on the country.

"I want him [Kapoor] to be the one quoted, not me. I'm very happy about it. That's why I called you. They put a lot of investments in our country," Arroyo said.

"Mr. Kapoor is one of our best advertisements in New York," said Arroyo, who was in New York last week on an official visit.

The FeAther technology is a biometric system that will identify and set the extent of a call center agent’s access to the network, Kapoor said.

With the secure technology, Kapoor said agents can work even outside the call center buildings.

"Our new proprietary technology represents a quantum leap for call centers and will vastly increase both flexibility and security for our clients," Kapoor said.

Kapoor refused to say exactly how much the FeAther technology costs, but he said it amounts to "multi-million" dollars.

According to an iQor news release, the firm has three call centers in the country that has provided 2,500 jobs.

I really like this video! hopefully you like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jevyR3wdL7o

thnx SUV :okay:

Monday, May 10, 2004 - 9:04 am ET
PR Newswire

400 Seat Center in Central Philippine City of Dumaguete (http://www.epixtar.com/release05102004.asp)

MIAMI - May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Epixtar Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: EPXR - News) today announced that its Philippine subsidiary has signed a letter of intent, subject to final approval, to lease approximately 2,600 square meters (about 28,000 sq. ft.) of new office space. The future call center site, to be constructed this year, is anticipated to be ready for occupancy within 12 months. It is located in the city of Dumaguete, which is the capital of Negros Oriental, a province in the Visayan Island region of the country. The developer, July Development Corporation, will build the three- story structure according to the specifications provided by Epixtar.

Epixtar believes it is the first call center company to commit to locating in Dumaguete, a city with three major universities. The Company has formed an alliance with Foundation University whereby Epixtar executives will guest lecture at the school's business college and the University will provide placement assistance for the Company. When fully staffed, Epixtar will likely be the largest private sector employer in Dumaguete.

Full story (http://www.epixtar.com/release05102004.asp).

Just reminiscing this press release that I also read from the BusinessWorld one week later. It made me really excited and in put me in high spirits. If realized, this callcenter would have been the first outside Metro Manila and Cebu. But we waited four months, five months, 1 year, and this callcenter hadn't been realized. Until...

October 11, 2005

October 11, 2005. Miami, FL. Epixtar Corp. (“EPXR.OB”), together with all of its significant United States subsidiaries, filed in the Miami Federal Bankruptcy Court on October 6, 2005 for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. A similar filing was made in the Philippines on October 7, 2005 on behalf of the Company’s Philippine subsidiary.

“The action is the necessary and responsible step to preserve Epixtar’s value for our creditors, customers, employees, business partners and other stakeholders as we address our financial challenges and work to secure our future,” said Martin Miller, Epixtar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Epixtar is open for business as usual and will continue normal operations throughout the reorganization process. Our first priority remains our clients- we are committed to continue to provide them with the quality service that they have come to expect from Epixtar.”

Full story. (http://www.epixtar.com/release10112005.asp)

The supposed entry of Epixtar put us in high spirits underlining the viability of Dumaguete as one of the country's most ideal centers for offshoring. While waiting in vain for the realization of this callcenter, we were surprised that SPi suddenly announced that it would set up a site here, the first outside Manila, and is now the largest BPO center in Negros Oriental. And of course, Teletech came in, and another contact center came in a few months ago. Still others are planning to establish their presence here. As it is now, Dumaguete is turning up to be one of the country's most viable outsourcing centers because of the presence of high quality educational institutions in the area.

Did they really open up a Center in Dumaguete? I'm just curious because the news are way back in 2004 and 2005, two more months to go and its already 2009.:lol:

:rofl: :rofl:

^^ your welcome TJ :)

TELETECH vows to keep industry leadership
By Karl G. Ombion

Officials of the multi-awarded TELETECH who came ahead in the city vowed to keep their industry leadership, as CONVERGYS, who claims to be “a global leader in relationship management,” will open today its operations in Bacolod.

TELETECH Executive Director for Operations Nicki Agcaoli said that their Bacolod center has been growing steadily since its started operations in 2006. “During these years, our TELETECH Bacolod center has grown to 2,033 employees from barely few hundreds when we started here. We certainly will expand before the end of the year, and more in 2008 and onward.”

Agcaoili said that at a time when other call centers are reducing personnel or folding up, TELETECH continued to register steady growth in client accounts, personnel and more importantly the lowest attrition rate in the industry.

“We are also starting our dayshift program as we open our Australia accounts; this means, we will be increasing our workforce by the hundreds in the next few months to keep the momentum,” Agcaoili added.

TELETECH Bacolod center Director Kit Joshua Bulfa said that “today we have promoted 95 percent from local recruits, unlike in our first year when we had to bring in people from Metro Manila; this is a proof that local community appreciation and support for us, and the whole business process outsourcing (BPO), is growing by leaps and bounds.”

When asked of the “secret” of their success, Agcaoili laughingly said “we have no secrets, everything we do is transparent; it is just that we keep a good balance between professional development and personal growth, or in simpler term, we are people oriented.”

The two young officials disclosed that aside from onsite professional development such as continuous staff trainings in English proficiency and readiness, customer’s relations management, the company has a lifestyle program in place which aims to promote positive work and lifestyle through gymnasiums, spas, full-service cafeterias and shops entertainment halls, comfortable quiet rooms for rest.

“A truly wholesome work environment is the key to achieving this balance among our personnel,” Agcaoili said.

Another factor for their increasing social acceptability in the Bacolod and Negrense community, Bulfa stressed, is their continuing community awareness program, community services, and good working relationship with the city government, local government units, the academic institutions and the business community.

“Malasakit” (kind heartedness) is Nicki and Kit’s description of their overall work. “We are just bringing back to the people and the community they support they have given us all these years,” Nicki said.

“At the end of the day, all the things we have done and the growth we have achieved would be nothing, if we don’t give back to the people, especially the less fortunate among us, the support they have been giving us,” Nicki added.

As to industry competition, Nicki admitted that it is growing, but added “we are not perturbed nor worried because we have a healthy view of it; we don’t engage in bad mouthing our competitors nor engage in demolition jobs even as others are reported doing; we just demonstrate our sincerity in everything we do for our people and the community.”

With all these, Bulfa opined, we are bound to sustain our growth momentum and bring greater benefits to the hosts city and the province in the years ahead.

http://www.thenegrostimes.com/oct0108front2

Bacolod booms so much. and bacolod leads Western Visayas in BPO industry.

TELETECH vows to keep industry leadership
By Karl G. Ombion

Officials of the multi-awarded TELETECH who came ahead in the city vowed to keep their industry leadership, as CONVERGYS, who claims to be “a global leader in relationship management,” will open today its operations in Bacolod.

TELETECH Executive Director for Operations Nicki Agcaoli said that their Bacolod center has been growing steadily since its started operations in 2006. “During these years, our TELETECH Bacolod center has grown to 2,033 employees from barely few hundreds when we started here. We certainly will expand before the end of the year, and more in 2008 and onward.”

Agcaoili said that at a time when other call centers are reducing personnel or folding up, TELETECH continued to register steady growth in client accounts, personnel and more importantly the lowest attrition rate in the industry.

“We are also starting our dayshift program as we open our Australia accounts; this means, we will be increasing our workforce by the hundreds in the next few months to keep the momentum,” Agcaoili added.

TELETECH Bacolod center Director Kit Joshua Bulfa said that “today we have promoted 95 percent from local recruits, unlike in our first year when we had to bring in people from Metro Manila; this is a proof that local community appreciation and support for us, and the whole business process outsourcing (BPO), is growing by leaps and bounds.”

When asked of the “secret” of their success, Agcaoili laughingly said “we have no secrets, everything we do is transparent; it is just that we keep a good balance between professional development and personal growth, or in simpler term, we are people oriented.”

The two young officials disclosed that aside from onsite professional development such as continuous staff trainings in English proficiency and readiness, customer’s relations management, the company has a lifestyle program in place which aims to promote positive work and lifestyle through gymnasiums, spas, full-service cafeterias and shops entertainment halls, comfortable quiet rooms for rest.

“A truly wholesome work environment is the key to achieving this balance among our personnel,” Agcaoili said.

Another factor for their increasing social acceptability in the Bacolod and Negrense community, Bulfa stressed, is their continuing community awareness program, community services, and good working relationship with the city government, local government units, the academic institutions and the business community.

“Malasakit” (kind heartedness) is Nicki and Kit’s description of their overall work. “We are just bringing back to the people and the community they support they have given us all these years,” Nicki said.

“At the end of the day, all the things we have done and the growth we have achieved would be nothing, if we don’t give back to the people, especially the less fortunate among us, the support they have been giving us,” Nicki added.

As to industry competition, Nicki admitted that it is growing, but added “we are not perturbed nor worried because we have a healthy view of it; we don’t engage in bad mouthing our competitors nor engage in demolition jobs even as others are reported doing; we just demonstrate our sincerity in everything we do for our people and the community.”

With all these, Bulfa opined, we are bound to sustain our growth momentum and bring greater benefits to the hosts city and the province in the years ahead.

http://www.thenegrostimes.com/oct0108front2

2000 plus employees and counting? wow... May Day-Shift na ang Teletech Bacolod for an Australian Accnt? another good news naman ini.:banana:

Bacolod booms so much. and bacolod leads Western Visayas in BPO industry.

Thanks Bro.:)

TELETECH vows to keep industry leadership
By Karl G. Ombion


Officials of the multi-awarded TELETECH who came ahead in the city vowed to keep their industry leadership, as CONVERGYS, who claims to be “a global leader in relationship management,” will open today its operations in Bacolod.

TELETECH Executive Director for Operations Nicki Agcaoli said that their Bacolod center has been growing steadily since its started operations in 2006. “During these years, our TELETECH Bacolod center has grown to 2,033 employees from barely few hundreds when we started here. We certainly will expand before the end of the year, and more in 2008 and onward.”

Agcaoili said that at a time when other call centers are reducing personnel or folding up, TELETECH continued to register steady growth in client accounts, personnel and more importantly the lowest attrition rate in the industry.

“We are also starting our dayshift program as we open our Australia accounts; this means, we will be increasing our workforce by the hundreds in the next few months to keep the momentum,” Agcaoili added.

TELETECH Bacolod center Director Kit Joshua Bulfa said that “today we have promoted 95 percent from local recruits, unlike in our first year when we had to bring in people from Metro Manila; this is a proof that local community appreciation and support for us, and the whole business process outsourcing (BPO), is growing by leaps and bounds.”

When asked of the “secret” of their success, Agcaoili laughingly said “we have no secrets, everything we do is transparent; it is just that we keep a good balance between professional development and personal growth, or in simpler term, we are people oriented.”

The two young officials disclosed that aside from onsite professional development such as continuous staff trainings in English proficiency and readiness, customer’s relations management, the company has a lifestyle program in place which aims to promote positive work and lifestyle through gymnasiums, spas, full-service cafeterias and shops entertainment halls, comfortable quiet rooms for rest.

“A truly wholesome work environment is the key to achieving this balance among our personnel,” Agcaoili said.

Another factor for their increasing social acceptability in the Bacolod and Negrense community, Bulfa stressed, is their continuing community awareness program, community services, and good working relationship with the city government, local government units, the academic institutions and the business community.

“Malasakit” (kind heartedness) is Nicki and Kit’s description of their overall work. “We are just bringing back to the people and the community they support they have given us all these years,” Nicki said.

“At the end of the day, all the things we have done and the growth we have achieved would be nothing, if we don’t give back to the people, especially the less fortunate among us, the support they have been giving us,” Nicki added.

As to industry competition, Nicki admitted that it is growing, but added “we are not perturbed nor worried because we have a healthy view of it; we don’t engage in bad mouthing our competitors nor engage in demolition jobs even as others are reported doing; we just demonstrate our sincerity in everything we do for our people and the community.”

With all these, Bulfa opined, we are bound to sustain our growth momentum and bring greater benefits to the hosts city and the province in the years ahead.

http://www.thenegrostimes.com/oct0108front2
From BacolodChamp

DayShift from a new Australian Accnt. Big Wow

Bacolod booms so much. and bacolod leads Western Visayas in BPO industry.

that's every visayan, whether cebuanos or ilonggos should be truly proud of. visayas is the fastest growing area in the country today, with cebu at the forefront.:cheers:

taraaaaaan!!!! thats good news. :) i love it...Bacolod BPO is sizzling HOT!!!

^^take a cue on the word EXPAND migs...hahaha. hmmmm, something i'm so excited with.:banana::banana::banana:

^^ 2000++ for Teletech, 1500++ for Teleperformance, 1000++ for Convergys and counting...everybody happy gid ini amigo Champ and SUV.:)

^^take a cue on the word EXPAND migs...hahaha. hmmmm, something i'm so excited with.:banana::banana::banana:

hehehehehehe...:) i missed that word :)

^^kon wala pa gin-highlight ni migo @boy, wala ko man na notice. hehehe

and that's just for the big 3 migo @boy, how about the others pa gid.

^^ 2000++ for Teletech, 1500++ for Teleperformance, 1000++ for Convergys and counting...everybody happy gid ini amigo Champ and SUV.:)

The three giants plus the dwarves pa....its nice to see the statistics of BPO employees in Bacolod...very overwhelming. For a small city to have such number of BPO employees. Thats really wonderful. :)

Visayas is really booming...Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Tacloban... The FAB FIVE.

hehehehe

^^kon wala pa gin-highlight ni migo @boy, wala ko man na notice. hehehe

and that's just for the big 3 migo @boy, how about the others pa gid.

Ang iban na International companies like LoneStar, Alliance, Focus, and other I think has over a hundred employees.:)

The three giants plus the dwarves pa....its nice to see the statistics of BPO employees in Bacolod...very overwhelming. For a small city to have such number of BPO employees. Thats really wonderful. :)

Visayas is really booming...Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Tacloban... The FAB FIVE.

hehehehe

If you notice migo SUV BPO's are very bullish on expanding in Visayas...:)

Wow! Grabe na talaga ang Davao! :)

The three giants plus the dwarves pa....its nice to see the statistics of BPO employees in Bacolod...very overwhelming. For a small city to have such number of BPO employees. Thats really wonderful. :)

Visayas is really booming...Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Tacloban... The FAB FIVE.

hehehehe

wala pa ngang call center dito sa Tac. hahahaha:)

^^we thought teletech is already in tacloban?

wala pa ngang call center dito sa Tac. hahahaha:)

diba robs will put up a BPO building? ooops sorry :)

So Fantastic Four lang pala muna :) heheheheh

released about 3 hours ago...

Bangalore, Chennai in top global outsourcing list
Monday, 06 October , 2008, 16:46
Last Updated: Monday, 06 October , 2008, 18:05

New Delhi: Six Indian cities are among the top eight outsourcing centres, according to the CyberMedia publications group.

A study by CyberMedia's Global Services, titled 'Top 8 Global Outsourcing Cities', said Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and the national capital region (NCR), Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, besides Dublin in Ireland and Makati City in the Philippines form the top eight global outsourcing cities.

India's representation in the 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities' has grown to four, from last year's three, with the addition of Jaipur to the list at number 31, the report said.

The other three cities in the list include Kolkata at number 6, Chandigarh at number 12 and Coimbatore at number 17

Two Chinese cities - Shanghai and Beijing - lead the list of emerging global outsourcing cities, and are followed by Cebu City in the Philippines.

The 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing Cities' 2008 list has nine new entrants - Quezon City, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Jaipur, Singapore City, Chengdu, Guadalajara and Mandaluyong City.

Six Chinese cities - Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu - are part of the top 50 emerging cities for global outsourcing list, compared to India's four (Kolkata, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Chandigarh).

Of the top 50 cities, 19 are from Asia and 13 from Central and Eastern Europe. Besides tier-1 Asian cities, outsourcing centres are being set up in many tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the report noted

The study says the choice of the city has become more important than the choice of the country to set up an outsourcing centre, with factors such quality of workforce and infrastructure determining its attractiveness.

"The concept of an individual location being a 'one-stop-shop' has given way to 'smart, multi, selective sourcing' models, wherein selected processes are outsourced only to the most appropriate destination," Global Services editor Ed Nair said.

While Bangalore, Krakow, Makati City and Shanghai are established centres for finance and accounting, Cebu City, Colombo and Pune are the emerging centres of excellence in this area.

The study has also short listed tier-II cities around the world, which have the potential of moving into the top 50 list. These include Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) Cork, (Ireland), Tianjin (China), Bacolod City (the Philippines) and Amman (Jordan).


HERE (http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14771683)

:banana::banana::banana:

Please read the last page........:banana::banana::banana:

released about 3 hours ago...

Bangalore, Chennai in top global outsourcing list
Monday, 06 October , 2008, 16:46
Last Updated: Monday, 06 October , 2008, 18:05

New Delhi: Six Indian cities are among the top eight outsourcing centres, according to the CyberMedia publications group.

A study by CyberMedia's Global Services, titled 'Top 8 Global Outsourcing Cities', said Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and the national capital region (NCR), Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, besides Dublin in Ireland and Makati City in the Philippines form the top eight global outsourcing cities.

India's representation in the 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities' has grown to four, from last year's three, with the addition of Jaipur to the list at number 31, the report said.

The other three cities in the list include Kolkata at number 6, Chandigarh at number 12 and Coimbatore at number 17

Two Chinese cities - Shanghai and Beijing - lead the list of emerging global outsourcing cities, and are followed by Cebu City in the Philippines.

The 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing Cities' 2008 list has nine new entrants - Quezon City, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Jaipur, Singapore City, Chengdu, Guadalajara and Mandaluyong City.

Six Chinese cities - Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu - are part of the top 50 emerging cities for global outsourcing list, compared to India's four (Kolkata, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Chandigarh).

Of the top 50 cities, 19 are from Asia and 13 from Central and Eastern Europe. Besides tier-1 Asian cities, outsourcing centres are being set up in many tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the report noted

The study says the choice of the city has become more important than the choice of the country to set up an outsourcing centre, with factors such quality of workforce and infrastructure determining its attractiveness.

"The concept of an individual location being a 'one-stop-shop' has given way to 'smart, multi, selective sourcing' models, wherein selected processes are outsourced only to the most appropriate destination," Global Services editor Ed Nair said.

While Bangalore, Krakow, Makati City and Shanghai are established centres for finance and accounting, Cebu City, Colombo and Pune are the emerging centres of excellence in this area.

The study has also short listed tier-II cities around the world, which have the potential of moving into the top 50 list. These include Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) Cork, (Ireland), Tianjin (China), Bacolod City (the Philippines) and Amman (Jordan).


HERE (http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14771683)

^^ Bacolod City goes global..:banana::banana:

^^^^That's right migs.Bacolod was almost included in the top 50.:banana::banana::banana:

^^ and the article says we have potential to be on top 50 :) that means...ara lang ta da dapit sa ranking migs :)

^^ amu gani man. enjoy lng ta galing ya a. syado ka claro mig:cheers::cheers:

good news for our economy.

AND FROM CIOL.COM

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Top 8 Global Outsourcing Cities in the world includes as many as six Indian cities led by Bangalore, says a study by CyberMedia's publication 'Global Services' - the media platform for global IT outsourcing and BPO industry, and Tholons - a global investment advisory firm.

The other Indian cities are Chennai, Delhi National Capital Region, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune. Dublin (Ireland) and Makati City (The Philippines) are the other two cities in the list.

India's representation in the top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities has grown to four, from last year' three, with the addition of Jaipur to the list at No 31, the study said. The other three cities in the list include Kolkata at sixth position, Chandigarh at No 12 and Coimbatore at No 17.

Chinese cities dominate this list with six cities. Cebu City (Philippines), Shanghai (China) and Beijing (China) lead the list of emerging global outsourcing cities. The other Chinese cities are Shenzhen, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

While the 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing Cities' 2008 list has nine entrants - Quezon City, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Jaipur, Singapore City, Chengdu, Guadalajara and Mandaluyong City - six cities from 2007 have not made it to the list this year, the study said. These cities are Perth (Australia), Baguio City (The Philippines), Leeds (U.K.), Birmingham, (U.S.), Oklahoma City, (U.S.), Juarez (Mexico). Of the top 50 cities, 19 are from Asia and 13 from Central and Eastern Europe.

Besides tier-1 Asian cities, outsourcing centers are being set up in many tier-2 and tier-3 cities, it added. The study has also short listed tier-II cities around the world, which have the potential of moving into the top 50 list. These include Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) Cork, Republic of Ireland, Tianjin (China), Bacolod City (The Philippines) and Amman (Jordan).

While pointing out the Chinese dominance in the outsourcing segment, the study said China's outsourcing industry is set to flourish further with a supportive government and favorable outsourcing conditions. CyberMedia's 'Global Services' from the USA, the first Indian magazine title to be published from outside the country for a global audience, report says increasing competition in the global outsourcing will make the cities more focused in identifying appropriate service lines and in developing their service-delivery capabilities.

Commenting on the 2nd Global Services study Ed Nair, Editor, Global Services said, "The concept of an individual location being a 'one-stop-shop' has given way to 'smart, multi, selective sourcing' models, wherein selected processes are outsourced only to the most appropriate destination."

Avinash Vashistha, CEO, Tholons, said "Clients' focus on identifying outsourcing locations has driven the emergence of 'Centers of Excellence.' Rise of Manila National Capital Region (NCR) – an agglomeration of 16 adjacent cities - is an example. Though less than 1/13th of India's population, its BPO revenues are already half as large as India's BPO revenues."
:banana2:Woohoo!

^^:lol:Mas klaro pa mineral water nga Evian.Sinadya lang ni aton ah,indi ni tinikal:lol::lol:

^^angas ng report ah!

diba robs will put up a BPO building? ooops sorry :)

So Fantastic Four lang pala muna :) heheheheh

NO! Make it fantastic five na kc APAC NOW is hiring or in need of a thousand applicants for their new branch at the ICT Park in Palo, Leyte. Interested applicants may now apply at recruitment@apacmail.com. Job fair will follow. Teletech will locate next year pag natapos na ang call center bldg. ng Robs[/U]

NO! Make it fantastic five na kc APAC NOW is hiring or in need of a thousand applicants for their new branch at the ICT Park in Palo, Leyte. Interested applicants may now apply at recruitment@apacmail.com. Job fair will follow. Teletech will locate next year pag natapos na ang call center bldg. ng Robs[/U]

yan naman pala eh...nalilito na ako...sabi naman kasi Tacloban will join the club :) :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

^kelan po mag start mag operate ang APAC? i heard it will be their first branch outside metro manila. excited na ako sa teletech, sana maganda ang design ng BPO Building ng Rob's :)

^^ APAC have announced just this afternoon during Leyte's 3rd Industry Forum that they will start its 1st provincial operation this coming January 2009 and we're lucky here in SSC that we're the first to know this beaking news. APAC is hiring almost 900 call ctr. agents and more than a hundred support staff.:banana:

^^we thought teletech is already in tacloban?

wala pa. next year pa ata. yung APAC nandun man sa Palo, Leyte di sa Tacloban

wala pa. next year pa ata. yung APAC nandun man sa Palo, Leyte di sa Tacloban



By the way captain_mars, the Leyte ICT Park is just barely 8kms from Tacloban proper, kahit hindi sa tacloban, malaking impact na rin yun sa economy ng tacloban

Napatalon ako sa kinauupuan ko ng mabasa ko biruin mo Half As Large in India already revenue here in RP! waaaaaaaaa baka malagpasan pa natin e2 kahit mas konti ang population natin!

By the way captain_mars, the Leyte ICT Park is just barely 8kms from Tacloban proper, kahit hindi sa tacloban, malaking impact na rin yun sa economy ng tacloban

correct....:okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay:

By the way captain_mars, the Leyte ICT Park is just barely 8kms from Tacloban proper, kahit hindi sa tacloban, malaking impact na rin yun sa economy ng tacloban

kaya nga. i agree. We're looking forward to 2010. by that time I'm optimistic na marami nang call centers ang magpuput up ng branch dito sa Tacloban.:)

kaya nga. i agree. We're looking forward to 2010. by that time I'm optimistic na marami nang call centers ang magpuput up ng branch dito sa Tacloban.:)
:banana::banana::banana::banana: I like the positive attitude of Tacloban People :) go for it Tacloban :)

the report is comparing NCR with India's population? or is it comparing population of BPO workers from both countries?

NCR's population vs. India's population

BPO revenues of NCR vs. BPO revenue of the entire Indian subcontinent

:)

kaya nga. i agree. We're looking forward to 2010. by that time I'm optimistic na marami nang call centers ang magpuput up ng branch dito sa Tacloban.:)

Hataw na Tacloban...Go! Go! Go! :banana::banana::banana:

released about 3 hours ago...

Bangalore, Chennai in top global outsourcing list
Monday, 06 October , 2008, 16:46
Last Updated: Monday, 06 October , 2008, 18:05

New Delhi: Six Indian cities are among the top eight outsourcing centres, according to the CyberMedia publications group.

A study by CyberMedia's Global Services, titled 'Top 8 Global Outsourcing Cities', said Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and the national capital region (NCR), Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, besides Dublin in Ireland and Makati City in the Philippines form the top eight global outsourcing cities.

India's representation in the 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities' has grown to four, from last year's three, with the addition of Jaipur to the list at number 31, the report said.

The other three cities in the list include Kolkata at number 6, Chandigarh at number 12 and Coimbatore at number 17

Two Chinese cities - Shanghai and Beijing - lead the list of emerging global outsourcing cities, and are followed by Cebu City in the Philippines.

The 'Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing Cities' 2008 list has nine new entrants - Quezon City, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Jaipur, Singapore City, Chengdu, Guadalajara and Mandaluyong City.

Six Chinese cities - Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu - are part of the top 50 emerging cities for global outsourcing list, compared to India's four (Kolkata, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Chandigarh).

Of the top 50 cities, 19 are from Asia and 13 from Central and Eastern Europe. Besides tier-1 Asian cities, outsourcing centres are being set up in many tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the report noted

The study says the choice of the city has become more important than the choice of the country to set up an outsourcing centre, with factors such quality of workforce and infrastructure determining its attractiveness.

"The concept of an individual location being a 'one-stop-shop' has given way to 'smart, multi, selective sourcing' models, wherein selected processes are outsourced only to the most appropriate destination," Global Services editor Ed Nair said.

While Bangalore, Krakow, Makati City and Shanghai are established centres for finance and accounting, Cebu City, Colombo and Pune are the emerging centres of excellence in this area.

The study has also short listed tier-II cities around the world, which have the potential of moving into the top 50 list. These include Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) Cork, (Ireland), Tianjin (China), Bacolod City (the Philippines) and Amman (Jordan).


HERE (http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14771683)
^^
:banana::banana::banana:

^^ Bacolod City goes global..:banana::banana:
^^
yup!
i think Bacolod is next to Metro Manila, Metro Cebu in terms of BPO.:)

One more outsourcing firm sets up shop in Bacolod City (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/111689/One-more-outsourcing-firm-sets-up-shop-in-Bacolod-City)
08/06/2008 | 03:58 AM

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A US-based company is set to open a small-scale call center here this year, joining three more outsourcing companies that have come here to take advantage of the city’s skilled work force.

Lone Star Global IT Solutions, owned by John Burdick of Houston, Texas, will provide outbound telemarketing services to clients in the United States, said Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who heads the Bacolod Negros Federation for Information and Communications Technology, Inc.

The call center will be located at the East IT Center, an information technology economic zone accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Lone Star will also undertake data entry and encoding, design and implementation, and operation of office business process such as outsourced customer support services.

These include sales and marketing support, customer care, technical support, data management services and customer relations management.

Ms. Batapa-Sigue said the firm’s recruitment officer is looking for agents with at least six months of experience in the call center industry.

She said the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Bacolod continues to grow as Lone Star Global IT Solutions comes to the city along with other IT enterprises.

"As foreign players venture into Bacolod, local leaders should seriously undertake more human resource programs to sustain the gains of the IT and BPO industry," she said.

She noted that while Bacolod has promoted itself as one of the next wave of cities identified by the Business Process Association of the Philippines, the responsibility does not end there.

"The task becomes more difficult because we have to come up with more programs in response to industry demands, especially manpower," she pointed out.

At present, the city hosts three major call centers — Teleperformance, TeleTech and Convergys.

It has five special economic zones proclaimed as ICT parks and buildings, and these sites are now the workplaces of almost 4,000 employees.

These include Luxur Plaza IT Centre, the site of Teleperformance at the old Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel; East Block IT Centre and Bacolod IT Park, both declared as IT parks.

The East Block is being occupied by First International Document Masters, Inc. and Intervoice Technologies, Inc., an insourcing company.

Others are the Robinsons Cybergate Center occupied by Teletech, and Monfort IT Centre occupied by Focus Pacific Communications.

Convergys is occupying One SanParq, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas. — Nanette Guadalquiver, BusinessWorld

One more outsourcing firm sets up shop in Bacolod City (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/111689/One-more-outsourcing-firm-sets-up-shop-in-Bacolod-City)
08/06/2008 | 03:58 AM

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A US-based company is set to open a small-scale call center here this year, joining three more outsourcing companies that have come here to take advantage of the city’s skilled work force.

Lone Star Global IT Solutions, owned by John Burdick of Houston, Texas, will provide outbound telemarketing services to clients in the United States, said Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who heads the Bacolod Negros Federation for Information and Communications Technology, Inc.

The call center will be located at the East IT Center, an information technology economic zone accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Lone Star will also undertake data entry and encoding, design and implementation, and operation of office business process such as outsourced customer support services.

These include sales and marketing support, customer care, technical support, data management services and customer relations management.

Ms. Batapa-Sigue said the firm’s recruitment officer is looking for agents with at least six months of experience in the call center industry.

She said the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Bacolod continues to grow as Lone Star Global IT Solutions comes to the city along with other IT enterprises.

"As foreign players venture into Bacolod, local leaders should seriously undertake more human resource programs to sustain the gains of the IT and BPO industry," she said.

She noted that while Bacolod has promoted itself as one of the next wave of cities identified by the Business Process Association of the Philippines, the responsibility does not end there.

"The task becomes more difficult because we have to come up with more programs in response to industry demands, especially manpower," she pointed out.

At present, the city hosts three major call centers — Teleperformance, TeleTech and Convergys.

It has five special economic zones proclaimed as ICT parks and buildings, and these sites are now the workplaces of almost 4,000 employees.

These include Luxur Plaza IT Centre, the site of Teleperformance at the old Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel; East Block IT Centre and Bacolod IT Park, both declared as IT parks.

The East Block is being occupied by First International Document Masters, Inc. and Intervoice Technologies, Inc., an insourcing company.

Others are the Robinsons Cybergate Center occupied by Teletech, and Monfort IT Centre occupied by Focus Pacific Communications.

Convergys is occupying One SanParq, the first and only built-to-suit Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered information technology center in Western Visayas. — Nanette Guadalquiver, BusinessWorld

^^migs please educate me...where is the Monfort IT Center located? whew..seems a total stranger na gid ya in my own place...

hahah,,,ara lang along lacson street where the STI computer college is located...sang una AMA school nada

^^the doña ceferina building if i'm not mistaken...thanks migs.

BPO, tourism make up for weak RP growth (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081008-165312/BPO-tourism-make-up-for-weak-RP-growth)


By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:16:00 10/08/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- Business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism are two "exciting" industries that can compensate for lowered economic forecasts for the Philippines, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said .

The economic outlook for the Philippines is deteriorating, with growth forecasted to fall from seven percent in 2007 to slightly above four percent in 2009.

The weaker outlook is due to present conditions in the US and Japan, two key markets for the Philippines.

"Double-digit inflation is eating into consumer spending where wages are failing to keep pace with rising living costs," according to the EIU report. "With the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) or Central Bank raising interest rates to fight inflation, investment plans are also being hit."

On the positive side, strong OFW remittances remain steady despite the global slowdown and this ensures that private consumption continues to be the key factor driving the economy, the report added.

BPO and tourism carry potential to lift otherwise sour economic forecasts, said Justin Wood, EIU corporate network director and Southeast Asia expert, in a statement.

"The recent expansion of the business process outsourcing industry shows strong potential to harness the country's large population of young, English-speaking and relatively well-educated workers," Wood said.

He added: "Tourism could play a much more significant role with the right level of investment, and with vast untapped mineral wealth the mining sector is attracting greater interest."

Charles Goddard, EIU Asia Pacific editorial director, also noted in a statement that country continues to face challenges such as poor infrastructure and a weak business and operating environment.

"The Philippines needs to raise its investment rate, which at just 14.8 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) is much lower than many neighboring Asian nations," Goddard said.

'Senate must pass IP, data privacy laws' (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081007-165107/Senate-must-pass-IP-data-privacy-laws)


By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:58:00 10/07/2008


MANILA, Philippines – A joint academe-private sector panel is urging Senate to integrate proposed bills on intellectual property and data privacy.

The said bills -- Senate Bill 1180 and Senate Bill 880 -- were drafted during the previous Congress.

Senate Bill 1180, or the Data Protection Act of 2007, authored by Senator Manuel Roxas III, aims to "establish fair practices in the processing of information relating or personal to individuals".

Senate Bill 880, authored by Senator Edgardo Angara, seeks to amend certain provisions in Republic Act 8293 or the country's Intellectual Property Code.

In recommendations sent to the Congressional Commission on Science Engineering and Technology (COMSTE), it was suggested that both bills be integrated into one bill.

This merged bill should cover issues significant to the information and communications technology (ICT) sector such as cross-border transfer of data, accountability of data "processors" and misuse of personal data.

These provisions apply especially to business process outsourcing companies since majority of their clients are based overseas, said Beng Coronel, Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) president and part of the COMSTE panel that drafted the proposal.
The panel also recommended that these bills should follow the APEC Privacy Principle rather than European Union standards.
"The EU standards are restrictive while the APEC standards are preventive and apply more to local companies," Coronel told INQUIRER.net in an interview during this week’s COMSTE hearing.

Coronel, also president of software firm Pointwest Technologies, noted IP and data privacy laws should take into account the transactional nature of BPO service providers.

Agreement to spur creation of more start-up tech firms (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125788/Agreement-to-spur-creation-of-more-start-up-tech-firms#)

Article posted October 08, 2008 - 06:02 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The Ayala Foundation, Inc. and a local venture capitalist have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate and help encourage more locals to build their own technology enterprises.

Ayala Foundation executive vice-president Guillermo Luz on Friday signed the agreement with Global Gateway Venture Capital (G2VC), a VC founded by technopreneur Winston Damarillo.

In a statement, the two organizations said they have agreed to collaborate through Tech Boot Camps, helping technology start-ups access much-needed capital and incubate them.

“Ayala Foundation through its AyalaTBI (Technology Business Incubator Network) and Global Gateway Venture Capital recognize that collaborative efforts will more effectively help develop new technology companies," the statement read in part.

Both the Ayala Foundation and G2VC have incubation facilities where start-ups can locate temporarily and be guided as they grow their business.

The AyalaTBI, in particular, has been building an ecosystem to encourage more Filipinos to become technology entrepreneurs, or technopreneurs. This ecosystem includes mentors, who are mostly successful technopreneurs themselves; VCs and other sources of capital such as banks and angel investors; property developers; and other service providers such as accounting firms and those providing marketing services.

“Both G2VC and AyalaTBI believe that in order for the Philippines to build up its competitiveness, both must enhance an ecosystem and create better chances of success for technology businesses to start and take root," the statement added.

Ayala Foundation has a network of TBIs nationwide—three in Metro Manila and one in the Visayas.

Besides offering an incubation facility, the Ayala Foundation offers a package of back operations services, such as accounting, human resource administration, and accounting and legal services, to allow the start-ups to focus on their core business.

G2VC is founded by Damarillo who is himself a successful technopreneur, having founded start-ups which have been both by big technology companies.

G2VC’s portfolio of companies in the Philippines include Exist Global, a company developing products based on open source technology, and Morph Labs, which specializes in software-as-a-service. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

Bacolod/Negros Occidental IT's / BPO's Center:

• Call Centers
1) Teletech – Robinson’s Cybergate Center, Bacolod
2) TelePerformance – Luxur Place Hotel, Bacolod
3) Convergys – One Sanparq Square, Bacolod
4) Focus Communication – Monfort Building, Bacolod
5) Alliance Call Center – East Block IT Park, Bacolod
6) F.I.D.M.I. – East Block IT Park, Bacolod
7) Call Out Solutions –
8) First Call Resources –
9) Intervoice Technology – East Block IT Park, Bacolod
10) Excel Asia – Lopue’s Mandalagan, Bacolod
11) Lone Star Global IT Solutions – Lopue’s East Center, Bacolod
11) Elektronz Call Centre – Talisay City
12) H.U.B. – Kabankalan City

- (Coming Soon)
1) PeopleSupport
2) Masterpiece Group Inc
3) Eventus-PLDT
4) Unknown Ayala owned PBO
5) Unknown BPO in San Carlos City


• IT Parks & Buildings:
1) East Block IT Park – East Commercial Center, Villamonte, Bacolod
2) Bacolod IT Park – Estefania, Bacolod
3) Robinsons Cybergate Center – Araneta St, Singcang, Bacolod
4) Luxor Place IT Building – Magsaysay St, Bacolod
5) Monfort IT Building – STI College, Lacson St, Bacolod
6) Lopue’s East Center IT Building – East Commercial Center, Villamonte, Bacolod

- (Coming Soon)
1) Sanparq IT Park – Lacson St, Bacolod
2) Lopue’s San Sebastian IT Building – Cor. Araneta-San Sebastian Sts, Bacolod
3) De La Rama Center – Luzurriaga St, Bacolod

*kindly update guys

^^the doña ceferina building if i'm not mistaken...thanks migs.

wilkam

^^ How many seats kaya itong Lonestar Global? 100 to 200 seats ok na rin yun.:)