Yahoo unfazed by Google entry in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The local unit of Internet giant Yahoo! said it is unfazed by the decision of search engine behemoth Google to finally establish an office in the Philippines to attend to its growing customer base in the region.

 Arlene Amarante, country ambassador and sales director of Yahoo! Philippines, told reporters that the entry of its rival in the country would benefit the industry as well as the consumers.

“Having Google here is a welcome change, the industry is only going to get better and bigger,” she stressed.

Yahoo! Established its offices in the Philippines in 2008 and was one of the foremost technology companies to have realized the potential the country offers as a key emerging market in the Asia Pacific region.

The company has made significant investments in the country and acquired the knowledge and insights into the online user behavior as well as worked with partners to grow the country’s has digital landscape.

She pointed out that Yahoo! Philippines is further beefing up its workforce that currently close to 40 workers.

Google announced last month the opening of its Philippine representative office, making the country its fifth representative office in the Southeast Asia after Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

Amarante said Yahoo! is committed to growing the digital industry for users and advertisers.

She pointed out that the company initiated a number of campaigns that were locally relevant and which connected Yahoo! with Filipinos.

These include Yahoo! She in celebration of the International Women’s Day, the OMG! Awards, College Hoops, Pitong Pinoy Awards, Style Factor as well as TechnoStorm Expo.