Mandaluyong begins country’s first call center training program

Mandaluyong City’s premier institution, Rizal Technological University (RTU), will begin the country’s first e-Customers Service Training program in schools on July 6 in a bid to provide the youth free access to quality education and prepare them for job opportunities in existing and future call centers.

A brainchild of Mayor Neptali Gonzales II, the e-Customers Service Training Center will train students in Communicative English telecommunication, financial and customer services.

"The realization of this program will make RTU and the city of Mandaluyong a pioneer in this endeavor as well as a significant partner of the government in its drive to produce excellent graduates who are able to compete in a global environment," Gonzales emphasized.

The center, located at the fifth floor of the RTU’s new main academic building, will have brand new electronics equipment for its speech laboratory and computers.

"With the help of my co-proponents, the Rizal Technological University led by president Dr. Jose Macaballug, the Mandaluyong City Council and the Mandaluyong City School Board, we will be able to provide continuous financial support to this pioneering program, thus helping educate more people as call center agents," the mayor said.

Under the three-month course, the students’ skills in Communicative English will be developed and reinforced; they will be provided process training for specific clients such as financial, telecommunications and customer services; and their capabilities in service providing will be enhanced to the level that complies with the quality standards of the training program.

"Through this e-Customers Service Training program, the city will be able to supply the workforce needed by call center companies. This, (program) indeed, will provide people with more employment opportunities," Gonzales stressed.

As early as July last year, a month after he assumed office, Gonzales already saw the potential of the call center operations as a sunshine industry. So in an effort to make the city of Mandaluyong at the forefront of this development, he mandated the creation of a project that would further boost this rapidly booming industry.

There will be two classes, each with 30 students. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Two English and two computer professors have been assigned as faculty trainors for the e-Customers Service course.

To pass the requirements for admission in the program, an applicant must be a college graduate or at least second year college student with English courses rating of no less than 2.0.

He or she must be a resident of the city of Mandaluyong for at least six months and a registered voter of the city. The applicant’s family monthly income should be not more than P8,000 based on the latest tax return or certification issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.