Two new BPO destinations revealed Charles E. Buban Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 06, 2009
WITH THE COUNTRY’S business process outsourcing industry’s expected growth of 20 to 23 percent this year—translating to $7.3 to $7.5 billion revenue—property developers are all out to make the Philippines investors’ preferred site for offshore operations.
Roseann Coscolluela-Villegas, corporate public relations manager for Robinsons Land, noted that leading companies around the world have realized that offshore BPO is a key strategy for keeping up with stiffer global competition.
“The Philippines’ attractiveness as a BPO destination is no longer limited to cost-reduction but also the country’s ability to provide global partners with human resource having the right set of skills and presence of specialized infrastructure that caters to their business requirements,” Villegas explained.
She revealed that for its part, Robinsons Land Corp. has provided a number of properties targeting these investors, the most recent being Robinsons Otis in Paco, Manila and Robinsons Cybergate in Cebu.
Robinsons Otis is situated on Paz Mendoza Guanzon Street in Paco.
Support establishments
“There are food outlets, a book store, service shops, spas and salons, computer outlets together with Robinsons Supermarket, R appliance and Handyman Do-It-Best that offer a wide spread of choices that serves to support the office spaces located at the upper levels of the mall,” she described.
Featuring its own lobby and having direct access via passenger elevators from the basement parking, this Peza-accredited project is equipped with 24/7 utility provisions and redundant power capacities.
“Robinsons Otis is well integrated to suit the unique lifestyle and work routines of BPOs and call center professionals,” Villegas said.
She added that locators will not have a hard time recruiting staff because the property is close to the University Belt where institutions like University of the East, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas and Technological Institute of the Philippines are located.
“It should be interesting to note that Paco district is also a short distance from the Taft Avenue where Philippine Christian University, Philippine Women’s University, St. Paul College, Philippine Normal University and Sta. Catalina College are located. In short, a company would not run out of talented staff,” said Villegas.
Expanding
Not only in Metro Manila, Villegas said RLC is also expanding to develop more responsive BPO spaces in other parts of the country.
“As the global BPO industry continues to expand in the Philippines, RLC is pushing itself to develop both office buildings and mall developments throughout the country. It is also hopeful that this bold move will echo the growth in other industries in the localities wherein its development will rise.
Robinsons Cybergate Cebu is just one proof of this development.
Located adjacent to Fuente Osmeña, it boasts of a 24/7 facility, state-of-the-art communications technology and infrastructure, redundant power capabilities and cooling capacity.
The seven-level development is well integrated to suit the unique lifestyle and work routines of call center professionals.
“The ground and second levels will house restaurants, drugstore, convenience store, bank and retail components while the next two levels, will offer wellness centers. BPO and call center spaces will be from fifth to seventh levels. There will be two basement floors for parking spaces as well,” Villegas described.
The new development, according to Villegas, stems from the synergy of the RLC’s Office Buildings and Commercial Centers Divisions.
“RLC’s pioneering efforts in integrating BPO office spaces in its shopping mall developments has now made the company a driving force in the industry and the main developer of BPO sites that offers a total live-work-play environment,” Villegas said.
She added that with its pioneering strategy of adapting the mixed-use development by incorporating office spaces in or near shopping mall developments, RLC has now become the landlord of choice of key BPO players in the country.
Robinsons Cybergate Cebu reinforces the province’s structure as a dynamic BPO hotspot.
In fact, Cebu recently maintained its top spot in the latest Global Services and Tholons Survey on the Top 50 “emerging global outsourcing destinations” worldwide, which based its ranking on scale and quality of workforce, business catalyst, risk profile, cost and quality of life.
“This only means that the blend of esthetic, recreational and business values that Cebu offers will only enhance the image of Robinsons Cybergate Cebu among global investors,” she said.
BPO companies based in Cebu currently employ 50,000 staff.
