DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Despite the cancelled trip of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to this city due to stormy weather, the Liberal Party-led coalition on Tuesday conducted in this city its first rally in Negros Oriental province.
Senator Franklin Drilon, represented the president in the rally held at the sports complex in the city that was attended by LP candidates for various local positions in Negros Oriental and Siquijor, led by Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st district, Negros Oriental), vice president of LP-Visayas and running for governor in the May 2013.
Only a few of the senatorial bets however made it to the rally: Bam Aquino, Grace Poe and Jamby Madrigal. They were joined by Koko Pimentel’s sister Gwen and Sonny Angara’s wife Tootsie.
The LP bets and representatives first had a motorcade around the city and, after the rally, left for Cebu for another political rally in Talisay City where President Aquino was able to join them.
Meanwhile, President Aquino, in a speech read by Drilon during the inauguration of the second site of Qualfon BPO/IT company in Dumaguete, said the firm’s expansion “represents positive and meaningful change that is translating into tangible realities for our people.â€
Aquino said Qualfon is one of many companies in the country that have contributed to the rise of the IT/BPO industry. It is the largest call center provider in Dumaguete with a current
employee population of 3,000 that is expected to increase to 7,000 once the second site is fully completed.
The president said his administration was “determined to target 1.3 million employees and US$25 billion in revenues by 2016,†with some investment incentives for IT/BPO firms such as tax holidays and duty-free importation of capital equipment, among others. (FREEMAN)