P6B BPO complex to create 15T jobs

CEBU, Philippines - The groundbreaking of a business process outsourcing (BPO) complex at the former site of the Cebu City Jail has signaled the start of the P6 billion-investment expected to generate over 15,000 jobs for Cebuanos.

The Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has partnered with the Province of Cebu to develop the 1.2-hectare province-owned property along Salinas Drive, Apas, Cebu City under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) scheme. 

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, FLI President and CEO Joseph Yap, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama led the groundbreaking yesterday.

“We are bullish about Cebu and we are confident about the Cebu government,” said Yap in a statement.

Rama in his speech emphasized the “friendship, bonding, oneness, togetherness,” that can be very much productive. He said that as mayor, his primary responsibility is to engage as much undertaking and invite as many investors so that employment can be addressed.

“This joint venture, tell me who will argue, whoever will stand there that it will not generate employment then they are anti-poor. I am here for the poor, I am here for the rich and I’m the mayor for all,” Rama said.

The Garcias hope Rama to be mayor of Cebu City longer for the cooperation and collaboration that he has shown to the Province.

Gov. Garcia cited the Ciudad project, which is another billions worth investment on Capitol lot, continues to be hampered because of the opposition of “one obstinate, one person who by his action has not shown his true love and concern for Cebu.”

Garcia is obviously referring to Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña who opposed the project during his time as mayor. The Ciudad Project is supposed to be another joint venture of the Province of Cebu and the Fifth Avenue Development Corp.

Before the public-private partnership (PPP) is known to many, Rep. Garcia said that PPP was already started in Cebu way back in 1990.

The Province of Cebu and the Ayala Land formed the Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation (CPVDC) which is developing the business center of Cebu City.

Since then, only during the administration of the Gov. Garcia that another PPP was undertaken when the Province of Cebu partnered with Ayala-led Manila Water Consortium in the Carmen Bulk Water Development Project and now the FLI. (FREEMAN)