City lands 8th spot

CEBU, Philippines - The Queen City of the South is not just a major international tourism destination but has now become a major outsourcing hub.

Tholons, a global information technology (IT) advisory firm ranked Cebu City eighth, with the capital Manila at third as mentioned in its “Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations Report for 2013” on January 17.

Five other Philippine cities were also mentioned in the report with two from Luzon (Sta. Rosa, Laguna rank 70 and Baguio rank 99), another two from the Visayas (Iloilo at 93 and Bacolod rank 94), and a lone entry from Mindanao (Davao at 70).

The recognition was given after almost a decade of business process outsourcing (BPO), shortly referred to as call centers, operations translating to more jobs for the region. 

As of 2012, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said Cebu City has generated around 11,000 jobs from the industry.

He claimed “harmony and cooperation” among local government units (LGU) as the major factor.

Rama added that the removal of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, the city jail, attracted more investors especially at the Cebu IT Park.

“If you look back kanang diha sa IT Park, there used to be a city jail. I removed it. So the threat has been out. It then created an attraction,” the mayor told reporters.

However, he found it surprising that a national daily took time to publish this in its editorial page while the local dailies did not.

“It was a great surprise to me. At least it took Manila Bulletin to print it. I do not know why in Cebu, it has not reached out papers. Gauna ang Manila, nauwahi ta, (Manila wrote it first.)” he said. (FREEMAN)