Iloilo strengthens grip on BPO investments

CEBU, Philippines - Iloilo City is now working double time to strengthen its grip  on Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) investments, capitalizing  on its ample power supply, abundant manpower and government  fiscal perks.

In an interview with Iloilo City government's public relations  head Jose Rey Delfin, he said that the local government headed  by Mayor-elect Jed Patrick Mabilog is set to boost its BPO  investments by forging strong partnership with the private  sector, such as developers like Megaworld Corporation, which is  currently building a P35 billion township development in the  city.

At present, Iloilo is hosting several BPO companies enjoying  both perks from PEZA and Board of Investments, including local  government incentives, Delfin said.

In Megaworld's 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park, there are at  least four outsourcing firms operating, employing over four  thousand people.

According to Delfin, the City government has created an Iloilo  Economic Triangle, which hosts three townships, developed by  big developers in the country.

The city, which is positioned as the new emerging site for  investments in Western Visayas provides at least 22 thousand  college graduates every year.

Its readiness to host outsourcing and other kinds of  investments is also being complemented by building huge  convention center to take advantage of the MICE (Meetings,  Incentives, Conferences and Exhibit) events.

In partnership with Megaworld, Iloilo City built the Iloilo  Convention Center (ICC), which can accommodate over 3,000  people at one time. It hosted last year's APEC Ministerial  Meeting held in the city.

Meanwhile, economist Bernardo Villegas said this active stance  of regional cities in Southern Philippines to polish their  appeal as BPO investment site may pose as an alarming threat to  Cebu.

According to Villegas, while Cebu is undoubtedly on top in  terms of growth, the province is warned not to be too  complacent, as the problem of infrastructure is starting to  weaken Cebu's charm.

"Do not let Iloilo [and other provinces] steal your thunder, "  warned economist Bernardo Villegas.

Villegas expressed deep concern about the worsening traffic  problem in Cebu, that could shy away investors especially in  fast growing outsourcing, and manufacturing sectors, as well as  tourism.

If  Cebu will not be able to fix the needed infrastructure,  other key cities like Iloilo, Dumaguete, Davao, and others will  be reaping the benefits.

Villegas was specifically calling once again on concerned  government authorities, to take care of Cebu's charm to  investors, tourists, otherwise other neighboring cities and  provinces will be able to "steal" the benefits that Cebu could  have gotten.

"Your infrastructure is not catching up," said Villegas  emphasizing that the traffic problem alone is one of the  obvious manifestations that Cebu is not serious in being ahead  of the projected (economic) progress.

"It is the greatest responsibility of the state to make sure  that infrastructure is always ahead of progress," said  Villegas, stressing that Cebu is almost on the brink of losing  its attractiveness, if problems in infrastructure, as well as  traffic will not be given utmost resolution. (FREEMAN)