Cebu bent on developing the emerging KPO sector

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from tackling several local and outside issues that may derail the growth of the outsourcing industry, Cebu is determined to develop the emerging KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) considering the ample supply of talents here.

Jun Sa-a, chairman of the upcoming ICT/BPO Conference on June 26 to 27 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, said that Cebu has to double time in maximizing its capability to host more high-value services in outsourcing, such as KPO, considering that Cebu is one of the pioneering preferred destinations for KPO even as the industry has yet to take off.

Sa-a said, for years now Cebu has been the location of giant KPO investors such as Lexmark Research and Development Center, NCR, Dash Engineering, Lear Philippine Engineering Technology Center, and other new KPO companies that entered Cebu in the last couple of years.

“We have the capability, we might as well promote this and show it to the world,” he said.

In the next few years study shows that KPO demand skills is expected to rise.

Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) chairman Bong Borja said earlier that Cebu could leverage in attracting this high-level outsourcing service.

Borja said that despite threats from the proposed US bill against outsourcing, the voice service is still expected to further grow in the next few years and the huge KPO market will further boost the employment generation as well as the investment revenue for the province.

KPO is an emerging segment in the outsourcing sector that the Philippines has yet to penetrate. Currently, this market is dominated by India.

This middle and higher level outsourcing services will need professionals such as financial analysts, people who have degree and masters in human resource management, accountants, among others.

“These are the very expensive or high-paying type of outsourcing. I believe we have the talents and raw ingredients to attract the KPO market,” Borja said.

In October last year, BPO company Aegis announced its interest to put up Aegis Global Academy in Cebu, which is seen to boost the supply of KPO skilled workers in Cebu.

Aegis is currently negotiating with the Cebu City government for the realization of this plan, as it is eyeing to put the facility at the South Road Properties.

In 2010, the Cebu City government turned over a five-hectare property which is equivalent to P500 million worth of property within SRP to the University of the Philippines-Cebu to establish the MBA school.

Based on the initial plan, UP is allowed to get industry partners to invest for the facility in the next three years. (FREEMAN)