Filinvest City's Northgate Cyberzone: The BPO IT park of the south

MANILA, Philippines - The BPO industry is undeniably one of the fastest-rising industries in our country today. Top the lightly-accented English fluency with hospitality and a known culture of care, there is no doubt why the Philippines continue to grow in popularity earning its place as the number one most preferred outsourcing business destination. Industry frontrunners are now hard-pressed to find the most ideal locations locally– those that can provide a high level of technological infrastructure while at the same time a safe and convenient working environment. These elements lie at the crux of the Northgate Cyberzone, a premiere I.T. Park located in the dynamic Filinvest City, Alabang.

“Back in the late ’90s to early 2000, the major CBD’s (Central Business Districts) would be Makati, Ortigas and Filinvest City. At that time, US and UK-based multinational firms needed cost-effective, high-quality back office support systems, excellent talent pool and manpower, reasonable rental rates of office spaces, reliable and fast internet services, among others,” recalls Vice President and Project Group Head for Offices of Filinvest Alabang Inc. Maricel Lirio. The realization of all these specific needs led Filinvest to establish Cyberzone Properties, Inc. (CPI). Known for its innovative contributions in making the Philippines attract more business and becoming more globally competitive, Filinvest took determined strides with faith in the country’s potential, the globally-competitive English-speaking workforce and low, business start-up costs. “CPI allotted a massive and prime area in Filinvest City to be more accessible to future locators and their employees and to show great belief and support of the company to this industry,” narrates Lirio. This area is now known as Northgate Cyberzone, an IT Park replete with features and support services that are on every BPO company’s wishlist.

PEZA-registered ecozone

Northgate Cyberzone is a PEZA-registered economic zone. The law mandates giving tax incentives to both multinational firms that outsource jobs to local workers and developers of these designated zones. “Northgate Cyberzone as a PEZA zone alone is a huge plus. Our locators get to enjoy substantial exclusive economic and strategic advantages which infuse the business with that much-needed boost. Look at the bottomline and the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors multiplies tenfold,” explains Lirio.

Northgate Cyberzone offers advanced infrastructure support. For one, it utilizes a multi-source centralized water system and an advanced technology sewage treatment plant. Testament to the IT Park’s highly advanced infrastructure is the fact that it was the only area in Southern Manila that did not suffer severe damage from typhoon Ondoy. In addition, its skyline is contoured by smart e-buildings that accommodate multiple service carriers such as PLDT, Globe, Eastern, Digitel and Bayantel, supplying a secure multi-platform open source broadband network, which is, in turn, supported by mobile generators that can supply up to two days of continuous power. It’s not all top level corporate efficiency that sets this IT Park above its peers. CPI and Filinvest Alabang Inc. provide a 24-hour emergency quick response unit by Lifeline Rescue [which] is on duty and ready for whatever emergency.

But in the final analysis, as in most businesses, everything is about location, location, location. And it is hard to beat the advantages Northgate Cyberzone affords its locators and workforce because of its accessibility being in Filinvest City . This CBD is highly accessible because of the 24-hour transportation that converges at South Station, its main transportation hub. From South Station, people can hop in on air-conditioned shuttle buses that take them straight into this premier IT park. The BPO companies located in Northgate Cyberzone now enjoy the luxury of an abundant and capable workforce now approaching 20,000 (and counting). People from places such as Laguna, Cavite , Batangas, Taguig and Makati constitute a higher percentage of the workforce; majority of which hail from suburban and Southern Manila ( Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa).