CLARK FREEPORT -- The newly launched Metro Clark Information and Communications Technology Council (MCICTC) said the Information Technology (IT) sector remains to be a potential enterprise in the province amid the deepening effects of the global financial crisis.

MCICT Chairman George Sorio told Sun.Star that much is yet to be exploited on the business as P7.5 billion in investment is projected for this year alone.

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He said that in 2008 alone, some P550 million had been infused in the country by Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) businesses.

Because of this, the MCICT is urging political and IT leaders here to help in preparing the local industry here to accommodate such investments.

“The Global Crisis has prompted big investors in other countries to look for more affordable options. Pampanga is one of the potential areas for such investment,” Sorio said.

But he added that much is still to be done to prepare facilities, manpower and the business sector here in fully exploiting the potentials of the IT sector.

At present, most IT establishments here concentrate on “voice-based” services through contact centers of BPO companies.

The BPO sector inside Clark Freeport has been able to generate some 10, 000 jobs constituting 18 percent of the total employment generation here.

The contact center industry is second only to the electronics industry in the number of job generation as of latest Clark Development Corporation (CDC) reports.

Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Ramon Ibrahim told Sun.Star that the current trend in the IT business is now leaning on “non voice services” like software development and computer engineering as well as computer and hardware manufacturing.

“Clark sits in a location that would be very conducive for IT investment all we need to do now is prepare the area and its people for the needed investment,” Ibrahim said.

He said IT graduates from universities here would benefit if Clark would focus on non-voice services and industries.

To better coordinate efforts of the IT sector here, Sorio said MCICT will strengthen its membership and lobby for more political and fiscal moves to prime the IT sector here.

MCICT also launched its web portal www.metroclarkict.com to better coordinate efforts for the IT sector inside Clark.

CDC President Benigno Ricafort said they are now working closely with the MCICT to pave the way for the development of industries in software application development, data engineering services and web development among others.