IBM opens 2nd global delivery center in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Technology solutions giant IBM has opened its second Global Delivery Center (GDC) in the Philippines, in Cebu, taking advantage of the province’s abundant supply of high-value Information Technology (IT) talents.

The Cebu GDC site for Application Services (AS) will complement the Manila’s GDC operations that will focus on providing support service and product development for package, web technology, and other consumer application product developments.

Initially, Cebu site will focus on capabilities in Java, testing and groupware, said Lula Mohanty IBM director for GDC Philippines.

“This is a big revelation to the world that Philippines can do. We have full spectrum of applications services here,” Lula said in a press conference on the formal opening of the Cebu GDC site located at the TGU Tower in Asia Town IT Park.

In IBM’s eight strategy centers in the world, Philippines is considered as one of the central and strategic locations, said Richard Patterson vice president for Globally Integrated Delivery.

Patterson said one of the considerations IBM has seriously look at in expanding its operations around the world especially in the high-end capabilities such as the GDC facility, is the government’s strong support in this kind of investment, strong academe system that provides ample supply of talents and IT capabilities, good IT infrastructure, and stable environment in terms of political stand point.

With this, Patterson said “Cebu became a logical choice. We saw the capability and skills here.”

IBM is expanding its applications services in the country offering key competencies such as Java, and Web technologies, Lotus Notes, Testing and Software Maintenance.

Local IT stakeholders said the entry of IBM in Cebu will reinforce Cebu’s name in the global IT investment community.

According to Lula, IBM still has to calibrate the strength of Cebu high-value IT talent and it may focus on the three identified services—Java, Testing and group-ware.

One of the services that will be delivered by GDC sites, is to provide support to IBM’s clients worldwide, or develop product depends on the unique demand to IBM’s customers worldwide, Patterson explained.