BPOs stock up on Ortigas office space

MANILA, Philippines - Over the past several years, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms have been setting up new locations in Metro Manila.  Two new office buildings coming on stream in the first half of 2014 are evidence that the established Ortigas Center central business district (CBD) continues to be a highly attractive location to call centers and other firms in the offshoring and outsourcing arena.

According to Phillip Anonuevo, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) associate director, interest from BPOs in the two new office buildings continue to run high. JLL is the leasing agent of Cyberscape Alpha, a 40,000-square meter BPO office building located along Garnet and Sapphire Roads, a short walk from the Robinson’s Galleria complex.

The developer, Robinsons Land Corp., is also constructing Cyberscape Beta, another BPO office building scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014. These Robinsons Land projects together offer a gross floor area of 80,000 sqm.

 â€œWe’ve realized that the district remains very attractive to BPOs. After all, it is strategically and centrally located in Metro Manila and offers easy access to residents of San Juan, Quezon City, Pasig, Cainta and Marikina as well as Taguig, Pateros and Paranaque. Given the tight competition for talent in the industry, BPOs prioritize location as it heavily influences the employment choices of BPO agents,” Anonuevo said.

Cyberscape Alpha and Cyberscape Beta are both located within the Ortigas CBD. The two buildings offer large, efficient floor plates and flexible air-conditioning systems that can be operated in sections, saving on energy which tops the list of operating costs. Employees will find easy access to Robinsons Galleria, the MRT-3 Ortigas Station and the major transport lines to Cainta and Taguig as well as to Makati and Quezon City.

Anonuevo noted that the early BPO buildings were built in the Makati and Ortigas CBDs, which have been the traditional financial districts of the country.  He said that in terms of capacity, the Ortigas Center CBD has 30,000 seats.

“There could have been a lot more BPO offices in Ortigas Center CBD, except that supply has been erratic in recent years,” he pointed out. “Cyberscape Alpha and Cyberscape Beta are likely to be taken up quickly because no new supply is forthcoming in Ortigas Center.”

He added that Robinsons Land is the largest developer in Ortigas Center and is preferred due to its excellent track record as an office space provider in the BPO industry.