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Saturday, August 12, 2006
Arroyo wants call center trade in RP to compete worldwide
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday ordered the crafting of a master plan on how to make the Philippines internationally competitive in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
Presidential adviser on international competitiveness Roberto Romulo said the President convened a strategic planning session consisting of her International Board of Advisers (IBA) and senior executives from the BPO sector in order to find out "how to go up the value chain of BPO."
"The President is determined to learn more," said Romulo, who is also the chairman of the Asean Business Advisory Council (Abac).
He said the job of coming out with a master plan was given to a public-private sector task force co-chaired by Trade Secretary Peter Favila and former trade secretary Cesar Bautista. The other members of the task force include former trade secretary Rizalino Navarro and Guillermo Luchangco of the GDL Group.
He said the task force will be given target dates on when to come out with the master plan. "This is a landmark event because the President acknowledges that in this globalizing world we have to try to achieve to be better than we are today," he added.
Romulo said the call center industry has grown from four in 2003 to more than 100 this year, with the number of jobs generated from rising from 2,000 to 200,000. India still leads in providing manpower for the BPO business.
"We are definitely in the radar screen as far as call centers and BPOs are concerned. However, we cannot rest on these laurels, and (have to) ask experts how do we get more," he said.
He said BPO was chosen because it involves services and brainpower and the ability to speak and analyze, which Filipinos are very competitive in. "Filipinos are perfect for call centers because they have the personality and desire to please customers," he added.
He hoped that call center business would also bring back even the medical professionals that have gone abroad for greener pastures.
President Arroyo will keynote the 10th anniversary conference of the Abac at the Mactan Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday. She will discuss her plans as chairperson of the 12th Asean Summit and the East Asian Summit to be held in the province in December.
First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo last Friday led the countdown for the Philippines' hosting of the Asean Summit. (JMR/Sunnex)
(August 12, 2006 issue)
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