AFTER a week of crime busting, business stories take center stage in the city and province of Iloilo.

First off is the one-week Information Technology Week mounted by the city and provincial governments, Department of Trade and Industry and the Iloilo Foundation for Information Technology.

The activity kicked off with an IT Investment Forum Tuesday at Amigo Terrace Hotel. The forum was attended by Commission on Information and Communications Technology commissioner Monchito Ibrahim, Jonathan Defensor de Luzuriaga of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, topnotch business executive Rex Drilon and Antonio Jon of the Iloilo Business Club and Iloilo Economic Development Foundation and Governor Niel Tupas Sr.

Also in tow were A. Arman Lapus and Engr. Andy Moncada of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), Engr. Randy Pastolero of Panay Electric Co., and other IT industry stakeholders.

The IT week basked on the recent citation received by Iloilo City as one of the next wave cities by major players in the business processes outsourcing sectors.

With numerous BPO firms setting their eyes on Iloilo and other areas of the region, IFIT deemed it wise to push the city as the future of the IT industry of the country. With the rich Ilonggo manpower enough to supply the needs of the BPO sector and the relatively affordable standard of living, Iloilo indeed is a bright spot in the IT industry.

On September 12, Go Negosyo of Joey Concepcion goes to Iloilo for the Go Negosyo Iloilo forum. The forum will also honor the inspiring Ilonggo entrepreneurs such as Arsenio Rafael of AM Trading, Stephen Chan of Central Azucarera de San Antonio, Edgar Sia of Mang Inasal and Deco’s Batchoy and Alfonso Uy of La Filipina Uygongco Corp.

But the biggest business story in Iloilo is the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate of the coal-fired power plant proposed by GBPC.

After more than eight months and heavy debates between pro and anti-coal forces, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gave the green light to the project which is seen as a vital component in marketing the city and province to local and international investors.

Rex Drilon, ILED president, said the construction of the coal-fired power plant will serve as the impetus for selling Iloilo to big business, particularly the BPO sector.

“This is a fantastic time to invest in Iloilo thanks to the determination of resilient Ilonggos to attract investments in the IT sector,” Drilon said.

Jonathan Defensor De Luzuriaga, executive director of Business Processes Association of the Philippines, echoed the same positive outlook on Iloilo in the IT sector.

According to De Luzuriaga, Iloilo, aside from providing the highest number of manpower to BPO investors, it has yet to be saturated, thus, a big potential for growth. The main chink in Iloilo’s armor is its infrastructure since we don’t have enough office space for locators. Power and water problems must also be addressed if we intend to attract IT ventures.

While Bacolod City may be ahead of Iloilo when it comes to the number of locators and services, our neighbor across the strait is slowly creeping towards saturation.

Ilonggos must also be prepared to provide the ancillary services needed by BPO investors such as restaurants, convenience stores, transportation and even spas, De Luzuriaga added.

Monchito Ibrahim of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology sees Iloilo as a bright spot in the IT sector. He also projects Iloilo’s manpower share to increase from 7,000 to 10,000 workers in the coming years.

“I can see all the ingredients in Iloilo that is why we consider the place a next wave city of the BPO industry,” Ibrahim enthused.

To all Ilonggos out there, I guess we all have good reason to believe and invest in our province and city. There are endless opportunities coming our way.

Leave a Reply