Call Center City draws positive reax from BPOs

CEBU, Philippines – The Call Center City at the South Road Properties (SRP) envisioned by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has gotten a good feedback from large BPO companies operating in the country, with a listed property company keen on developing the project, said Joel Mari Yu, city's economic consultant.

In a recent interview, Yu said they had spoken to at least a dozen of large BPOs and that these companies "are all very excited" after the concept was presented to them.

Yu, who heads the Cebu Economic and Business Unit (CEBU), said consultations with these BPO firms to get their insights are almost done.

Once the consultations are done, he said the city government will then talk to the said property developer-investor.

DoubleDragon Properties Corp., the listed firm owned by Injap Sia and developer of City Mall, was reportedly to have been interested in the project and was previously mentioned by the mayor.

According to Yu, Osmeña had already talk to this investor but it is likewise interested to know the project's acceptability.

The so-called Call Center City will be located in a 60-hectare lot at the SRP.

Yu shared that the idea is to make it a BPO enclave which will have rental facilities, educational institutions and a commercial complex. It is also designed to be a place where BPO workers may finish their college or get a master’s degree while still earning for their basic needs.

At the current number of over 100,000 BPO employees in Cebu, BPOs account for P7 billion infused into Cebu City’s economy every month.

In his State of the City Address last month, the mayor said Cebu has a shortage of 50,000 call center agents.

With an extra 50,000 jobs, he said this number could increase to over P10 billion per month.

Osmeña said he had already spoken to Convergys, Xerox, Teleperformance, E-Performax, Accenture and Qualfon.

Most of them are all reportedly excited as they would have the opportunity to expand in the city. — (FREEMAN)