BPO's Thrives To expand Admist Financial Crisis

Dagupan City: Admist the shrinking economy and growing financial turmoil, the business process outsourcing(BPO) industry in Philippines continues to grows since its inception in the year 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroya said that, the benefits attained in the country's economy due to BPO service providers have reached the grassroots. She said that, they have created the BPO industry from almost nothing in the year 2001. At the start of administration, there were only 4000 employees but today there are 400,000 BPO employees.

The Philippine BPO industry has grown by leaps and bounds. According to the records of BPO industry in the country, there were 101,000 employees. This number rose to 163,000 in the year 2005 and again in the year 20006 this number rose to 236,000. During the year 2007, the number of BPO employees had reached 300,000 then again it increased to 372,000 in the year 2008. Currently there are 400,000 employees in the BPO industry.

The Philippine BPO industry has received great support from president Arroya in terms of wider access to communication and information technology. There has been provision of broadband services in cities and other developed areas. Accredited companies like Ecozone information technology are entitled to a holiday from the revenue generated and local taxes for four and eight years.

Arroya said that,they worked to speed up the telecommunication network infrastructure by bringing down the cost of connectivity. The president added that, their role is to provide an environment for growth. Now, the third area of development is the human capital to provide world class service.

In the year 2008. a total of 26,454 students graduated from Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program, out of which 17,650 have already been employed in call centers.

Speaking about the common people, Mic Cruz, a cyber agent was happy to get a job in a reputed call center because she is able to support her family well. Alejandra Manabat, a canteen owner said that, her canteen sales grew up because of the BPO service providers. A jeepney driver, Homini Intendencia is quite excited about his growing number of passengers even at night. Efren Borja, a real estate agent is able to provide a better lifestyle to his family due to the growing number of call centers in the nearby vicinity.