ILOILO City – Notwithstanding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in this southern city is thriving and giving jobs to thousands of Ilonggos and non-Ilonggos.
Iloilo City is currently home to around 100 Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) companies providing job opportunities and improving the lives of many families.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, from 28,800 employees in 2019, the BPO sector has grown to 36,800 population.
“Daku gid ang akon pagsaludo sa mga empleyado sang BPO nga padayon nga nagahimakas apisar sa mga pagtilaw nga aton gina-atubang. Padayon ako nga magasulong para makabulig sa tagsa-tagsa ka mga Ilonggo kag malab-ot ang kauswagan para sa tanan,” the city mayor said.
The Philippines’ IT-BPM sector is one of the best-performing and employment-generating activities in the past four years, according to industry.gov.ph.
Why the continuing boom?
“Sang nagpungko ako sa pwesto bilang alkalde, gintinguhaan ko gid nga makapangita dugang nga investments sa ciudad para makahatag dugang nga trabaho para sa mga Ilonggo. Madamo ako programa nga ginpatuman para makilala kita bilang investment hub,” said Treñas.
For one, the city government has not increased the Real Property Tax (RPT) and business taxes for the past three years and will continue to do this for the next three years.
Iloilo City also continues to be attractive not just to BPO companies but to other industries, too, such as real estate because of the peace and order, cheaper and stable power and trainable graduates here.
Colliers Philippines, a leading commercial real estate brokerage professional services and investment management company for landlords, tenants, and investors, cited Iloilo City as among the preferred locations for outsourcing companies expanding outside Metro Manila. Iloilo City, thus, will continue to bloom as a viable residential investment location, it added.
“Iloilo is quickly becoming a viable residential investment location,” said Karla Domingo, Colliers director of Advisory Services, citing the increasing economic and commercial activities in and around the city.
Meanwhile, the awards and recognition which the metropolis received since 2019 are proof of its fruitful undertakings that made it as one of the leading investment hubs in the country, especially of BPO companies.
In Dec. 9, 2021, Iloilo City was recognized as Best Driver of IT-BPO Investments after Manila during the Digital Cities Program.
The Most Business-Friendly LGU Award City Category Level 1B Highly Urbanized Cities Outside Metro Manila was also conferred to Iloilo City by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at 45th Philippine Business Conference in Manila Hotel on Dec.17, 2019.
Another award, “2020 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award”, was also given to Iloilo City on Oct. 08, 2020, another proof why Iloilo City continues to be the preferred by many investors. The award was given by PCCCI during its 46th Philippine Business Conference & Expo Innovation.
Moreover, this city was also ranked 1st Place in Resilience for Highly-Urbanized Cities Category in the 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Awards by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI). The award was given during the 7th Regional Competitiveness Summit at Philippine International Convention Center on Oct. 24, 2019
For Mayor Treñas, resilient cities promote sustainable development, well-being, and inclusive growth, helping achieve his vision for a level-up metropolis.
“Bilang amay sang ciudad, padayon ako nga magasulong sa pag-uswag para sa pagbangon sang tagsa-tagsa,” he assured the Ilonggos./PN
