From the archives
Recovered from an earlier Clark Outsourcing article. References, figures and announcements reflect the period in which it was written. Old prices and contact details have been omitted; some illustrations use images from the current site.
The rising demand for offices in Philippines’ central business districts (CBDs) have overwhelmed the cities in Makati, Taguig and Pasig, that even the provinces became an extension of the BPO industry. One great example of such is Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) in Pampanga.
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON CLARK FREEPORT ZONE
Clark Freeport Zone, formerly known as Clark Air Base, was used by the United States government as an air force base in Asia. Not only did they develop it for military use, they also improved it for the use of the Filipinos during that time. If you were to visit Clark Air Base then, it would probably feel like you’re not in the Philippines, but in one of the cities in the US.
The streets are clean, all traffic rules are being followed strictly and there’s no bribery in whatever form. Nowadays, although rules are still being followed, there’s little to no trace of American colonization in this place.
However, due to the stable economic growth of the Philippines, many investors, mostly from the US, are now re-visiting and building up a new Clark Freeport Zone. New buildings arise and further development of Clark is being implemented to accommodate incoming investors and BPO companies.
A QUICK VIEW OF THE BPO INDUSTRY IN CLARK
The Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) executive director for industry affairs, Raymond Lacdao, expressed in great confidence that in the next five years, the business process outsourcing industry will continue to thrive and even grow by up to 20% per annum. This is one great assumption, but is exclaimed to be attainable and sustainable too, added Lacdao.
It is evidently so because in Clark Freeport Zone alone, over 70,000 jobs have already been generated mostly by the outsourcing industry and still counting. The Clark Development Corporation (CDC), many local investors and BPO industry specialists will even host the 4th International Outsourcing Summit in Clark from October 7-9, 2012. This will further increase chances of getting better exposure for CFZ.
This 3-day summit is set to invite more investors and specialist to invest in CFZ’s ever-growing economy. Furthermore, the organizers expect no less than a hundred industry executives from both foreign and local corporations, multinational firms, significant analysts and several government officials to attend this event. They also plan to generate more jobs for our locals, which is the main concern of this summit.
Truly, CFZ has grown from being an American Air Base to a Central Business District in Pampanga. Some experts even believe that the summit should be the right time to declare Clark Freeport Zone as the top BPO and IT destination.
SEVERAL COMPANIES EXPANDING IN CLARK; PRODUCING MORE JOBS
According to recent studies by IBM and Everest Group, the country’s voice services have overtaken the spot from India as the number one provider of voice services in the world. Furthermore, its non-voice services have also increased rapidly that it is now the number two provider in the world. Thanks to several BPO companies and even top multinational firms in banking, telecommunications and technology, who have generated millions of jobs for our locals.
The Filipinos’ willingness to learn and ability to adapt easily also helped them survive the BPO industry. More and more companies have now started their expansion, most especially in Clark, and are opening several job opportunities for us. Here are some of the top companies needing your assistance:
I. Cyber City Teleservices Expansion Requires 900 Call Center Agents
One of the pioneering BPO firm in Clark, Cyber City Teleservices Inc. (CCTI), has just advertised its mass hiring of about 900 people to accommodate the recent expansion of its facility in Clark Pampanga. The ongoing improvement of US and Philippine economy has paved a way for US-based companies to develop further and be able to generate more jobs for our locals.
It was founded in 1999 and has opened the doors of business process outsourcing here in Clark and in Davao. Currently, CCTI has about 1,500 employees. They accept even high school graduates and college undergraduates for as long as they are 18 year-old and above.
CCTI ensures their clients with their dedicated and highly-qualified workforce who are more than willing to provide world-class outsourcing solutions.
II. Expert Global Solutions (EGS) to Expand in Provinces
Expert Global Solutions (EGS) Philippines has finally decided to expand to other places and increase their manpower before this year ends, according to EGS Philippines president, Rainerio Borja. Mr. Borja told the media during the Contact Center Association of Philippines press conference that EGS is going to hire about 5,000 people by the end of the year, which accounts to a third of the total work force of EGS.
They have already expanded to Clark, Pampanga and in Leyte before, but they are still looking for places in Northern Luzon and Mindanao. The company currently has seven offices in the Metro and one each in Leyte and Pampanga.
EGS has been known to be the firm that was built after the NCO-APAC merger in April 2012. It was for the best interest of the two entities to be merged so as to improve the new firm’s service portfolio, and now to further their growth as one.
III. iQor Philippines to Expand and Hire Again
One of the known contact centers here in Clark, Pampanga has finally announced the construction of another facility within their 32,000 square foot property. iQor Philippines is expected to hire no less than 700 more employees to fill this soon-to-be-built extension.
According to the president and chief executive officer of iQor in NewYork, Vinas Kapoor, they expect to increase the facility, workforce and revenues as this facility arises. They also plan to reach a minimum of 2,500 employees in total before the year ends.
The company is known to have outsourced here in the Philippines in 2005, with their first contact center located in Metro Manila. Not long after, they have expanded to another central business district, Clark Pampanga, with only about 50 employees. And now, they plan to hire about 300 employees before this year ends.