“I SWEAR, I never said that.”
This was stressed by Bacolod City Councilor Carl Lopez amid accusations that he demeaned call center agents in one of his campaign sortie speeches.
A Facebook post from a call center agent alleged that Lopez said: “Pag-eskwela kamo mayo, indi lang kamo mag call center (you study well, do not just settle in a call center)."
Claiming he was just misquoted, Lopez said what he said was, “I am appealing that if you go to school and take up whatever course you want, or what business you want to venture into, you should also try to look into the potential of the agriculture industry aside from the call center.”
He added that he was trying to explain that there are also other programs being funded by the government for small and medium enterprises to start up their business.
Lopez reiterated that he did not put down call center agents nor the call center industry.
The councilor said he recognized the contribution of the business process and outsourcing (BPO) industry, particularly the call centers in the economy of Bacolod City.
Lopez is puzzled as to the intention of the Facebook user in misquoting him “but what is certain is that she did not listen carefully” to what he said.
The one who posted it was listening but did not listen thoroughly, the reelectionist councilor.
“My campaign progress kay Lopez (progress from Lopez) encourages everybody to work so you could provide for your family... Whether you are a driver, a waiter or whatever job you have, I respect that,” Lopez told Sunstar Bacolod.
Despite clarifying that he did not belittle those who are working in the call center, Lopez still apologized to those who could have misinterpreted his statement.
Meanwhile, Lopez is set to meet with the officials of Smart Communication as well as with Dito Telecommunity Corp. to discuss the issue of slow internet connection in the city.
He said if the internet connection in the city will improve, more call centers and other BPO firms will put up their business here and generate job opportunities.