The business process outsourcing, the information and communication technology industries and its related IT-enabled services remain the economic growth drivers of Central Visayas.
This was contained in a 1st semester Central Visayas Regional Economic Situationer that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-7) in the region distributed to the members during the last full council meeting of the Regional Development Council on December 10, 2010 at the Elizabeth Hotel, Cebu City.
The NEDA-7 report read that in the 1st semester of 2010, six (6) BPO companies?People support, Epson, Teletech, Convergys, Qualfon and Exist Global expanded their operations in the region.
The report added that there were also three (3) new BPO-ICT firms that opened in the region. IBM-Philippines, for instance expands its presence here via the opening of its global delivery center for application services in Cebu.
JP Morgan Chase & Co. and the Thakral Group opened their ICT facilities at Asiatown IT Park that would address the IT needs of businesses in Central Visayas.
Data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) showed that as of May 2010, there are already 91 locators and over 44 call centers in nineteen (19) IT Parks or centers operating in the region.
Cebu’s Asiatown IT Park is the country’s second largest IT industry concentration. It has employed around 15,066 people with an estimated total compensation of over P1.4-Billion.
Some BPO companies are now looking at Negros Oriental for their expansion. The province is becoming a preferred location for provincial branch business operations, according to the Negros Oriental investment promotion center.
The Board of Investments (BOI) also reported that for the second half of 2010, twelve (12) projects are located in the region with an estimated investment cost of P1.30-Billion. This is higher compared to the P655-Million investment cost registered in the 1st semester of 2009, the BOI reported.
Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p101212.htm&no=17
