Skilled Filipinos to drive continued growth of BPOs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transport and Communications (DOT) attributes the continued growth of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country to the confidence of solutions providers in the skills of Filipinos.

“Opening a new site for a business that employs young Filipinos in always a refreshing opportunity,” DOTC Undersecretary Rene K. Limcaoco said during the recent opening of the 5th office of the NCO Group Inc. in Sta. Mesa.

“Just as refreshing as knowing, and actually feeling, that we are in new age of hope in the Philippines, a new era in governance and politics, a period of growing confidence and faith in our public institutions,” Limcaoco said.

US-based NCO has other BPO sites at the Clark Economic Zone, Fort Bonifacio, Marikina and in Quezon City.

According to a Business Processing Association of the Philippines 2011 report, the IT-BPO industry today is the second largest contributor to the local economy, next to remittance inflows from Filipinos living and working overseas.

The report further states that the BPO sector contributed close to $9 billion in export revenues last year, representing an approximately 4.8 percent share of the country’s GDP.

This year, the target is $11 billion and by 2016, it is estimated to be at the same level of OFW remittances at $25 billion.

NCO started its operations in the Philippines in 2003 employing 35 staff. Today, it has about 8,000 call center agents and staff spread out in its five sites.

“NCO’s commitment to the country’s resources is a terrific testament to the ability, skill and competence that we, in the Philippines, have,” Limcaoco said.

The country has overtaken India to become the world’s biggest provider of call center agents.