For Call Center career: City to ink P2M aid for USP 'study now, pay later plan'

The city council has authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enter into an agreement with the University of Southern Philippines Foundation for a P2 million financial aid for the foundation's study now, pay later program for those interested in a career in a call center.

The council approved a resolution authored by councilors Edu Rama Jr., Jocelyn Pesquera, and Christopher Alix to provide financial assistance to USP Foundation, by virtue of the Local Government Code, which allows local governments to provide assistance, financial or otherwise, to people's and non-government organizations "for economic, socially-oriented, environmental, or cultural projects to be implemented within its territorial jurisdiction."

USP Foundation requested assistance from the city government through the Cebu City Private Sector Organizations Evaluation and Monitoring Board. In a resolution, the board stated that the foundation's project proposal, work and financial plan, and other relevant documents conform to the requirements of the city government.

The study now, pay later program would be in partnership with the different call centers in the city where the recipients would undergo training for call center jobs. The program would be replenished through three schemes that some call centers have already been consulted and reportedly agreed to.

These include full reimbursement by the call center, partial reimbursement by the call center and salary deduction.

In the first scheme, the call center that employs and trains will reimburse the full cost of the training to the foundation. In the second scheme, the call center will partially reimburse the training cost and the balance would be re-paid through a two-month deduction from the employed agent's salary. The third scheme, meanwhile, would allow the employee to re-pay the scholarship fund through a four-month salary deduction.

Applicants to the program would be selected through documentary screening, a panel interview, an individual interview with the call center of choice, and pre-test that would determine an individual's psychological capacity and response to teambuilding, customer relations, problems solving, and multitasking. The training proper would be 10 days.

The city accountant has already certified that the USP Foundation, Inc. has not availed of any financial assistance from the city government in the past. - Joeberth M. Ocao