US company to put up call center hub in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Reese Brothers Communication and Commerce (RBCC), one of the largest US call center companies, has signed a contract with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the setting up of a state-of-the-art call center facility here.

SBMA chairman Felicito Payumo said the call center will generate thousands of jobs and strengthen the major components of the envisioned Cyber Subic project.

Payumo said Subic has complete telecommunications facilities with three-way global connectivity from fiber optic cable network and satellite transmission system to microwave uplink services, needed to set up an international call center.

Payumo said President Arroyo herself assured RBCC of full support.

RBCC will infuse an initial capitalization of $400,000 for the call center hub.

At present, RBCC operates 14 call centers in the United States, handling inbound voice, e-mail and online chat inquiries and telemarketing services which it hopes to duplicate in Subic.

The US company hopes to employ up to 2,000 Filipino workers in the first two years of its operations here.

Ralph Reese, chief executive officer and co-founder of RBCC, said, "We will empower our workers with skills that will make them among the most effective in the industry to safeguard the integrity, productivity and ultimate success of RBCC in Subic."

"I am confident Filipinos are the right kind of workers we need," he added.

Payumo said Subic offers a total community package such as the abundance of skilled workers, adequate housing facilities for employees and managers and other IT infrastructure.

Payumo conformed to the sub-lease agreement entered into by RBCC and Crown Peak Estate Developers Inc., represented by hotel and duty-free operator Anthony Trillo, based on an SBMA board resolution that Trillo will remit 50 percent of the total monthly lease directly to the SBMA.

The SBMA board approved the payment scheme to cover Crown Peak’s outstanding obligation.

Trillo said RBCC’s call center will occupy Crown Peak Hotel’s 1,222-square-meter Cathy Ballroom.