BPO firm to open branch in Leyte
By Joey A. Gabieta
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 17:51:00 10/09/2008
Filed Under: business process outsourcing (BPO), Technology (general)
TACLOBAN City, Philippines -- A business process outsourcing (BPO) company will set up a multi-million-peso facility in Leyte sometime in 2008.
The APAC Customer Service, which has Manila as its main office for its Philippine operations, will set up a branch at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo, Leyte, the first-ever in the Visayas, according to Nelieta Baguna, unit head of the Leyte Tourism and Investment Promotion Center.
"We welcome their coming here. And what makes it more exciting is that they would be operating in the Visayas for the first time and it is in Leyte," Baguna said.
She added that the APAC facility, which would have 500 seats and would cater to clients mostly based in the United States.
Baguna estimated that the APAC Customer Service would be investing over P100 million for their operation in Leyte.
"It's one of the biggest investments in the province under Governor (Jericho) Petilla," she said.
Baguna also said that based on an agreement between the APAC Customer Service and the provincial government, the company would lease an area at the Leyte Academic Center for three years with an option to renew it for the same number of years.
The company would be occupying the LAC's gymnasium, which it has renovated for its operations scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2009.
APAC Customer Service employs about 8,000 people from its existing 11 customer interaction centers both in the United States and in the country.
Its clients include companies in engaged financial services, communications, government, healthcare, insurance, parcel delivery, utility, pharmaceutical, retail, automotive, entertainment and travel.
Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya said that she felt happy that the APAC Customer Care would be operating in the province.
Bagulaya said the company's presence would help boost Leyte's economy as well as provide job opportunity for the locals.
Bagulaya also assured the company of the province's sufficient human resources in meeting its requirements.
She said that the entry of the APAC Customer Service indicated that BPOs have been taking a serious look at the potential of Leyte as the next information and technology hub.
Governor Petilla has been pushing to convert Leyte Academic Center into an information technology park and to promote Leyte as an IT center.
The center is located 12 kilometers away from this city.
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