WITH Metro Manila’s aggressive development comes rising costs and road congestion – making the outskirts and beyond more ideal for businesses. Thus, it isn’t surprising to find businesses that seek to scale, looking south of the metro for more viable areas.
Rich in culture and arts, Iloilo City has always been a dream destination for both local and foreign tourists. But those in the know recognize that the “Queen City of the South” is fast becoming a business process outsourcing (BPO) hub. Over 100 Information Technology and Business Process Management companies (IT-BPM) call Iloilo home. And with 38,000 Ilonggos employed in this industry, the boom is seen to continue.
Why Iloilo? The city government, for one, has maintained real property taxes and business taxes for the past three years. This has attracted not just BPO companies but real estate firms as well. Many of them look to the city’s exceptional peace and order, reasonably priced power, and skilled graduates.
At the height of the pandemic, Iloilo City was recognized the Best Driver of IT-BPO Investments during the Digital Cities Program. It has also been conferred The Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit award (City Category – Level 1B Highly Urbanized Cities Outside Metro Manila) by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in 2019. It received the same award in 2020 from the PCCI during its 46th Philippines Business Conference and Expo Innovation.
Here are four big reasons to head south:
STREETS AREN’T AS BUSY – Iloilo City has the space and the infrastructure to keep such congestion at bay. Traffic discipline zones are already in place and the city has taken initiatives to encourage earth-friendly transportation alternatives.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS READY – The country’s largest real estate developers – Ayala, Megaworld, and the SM Group have established their mixed-use techno hubs in Iloilo City for good reason! To date, the outsourcing industry is the largest contributor to Iloilo’s thriving economy.
SKILLED WORKFORCE AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE – Outsourcing companies are assured of a skilled and English-proficient workforce should they decide to settle in Iloilo. Iloilo has the highest literacy rate in the country thanks to the presence of eight universities and various academic institutions. The country’s best and brightest hail from Iloilo. The two largest are the University of the Philippines Visayas and West Visayas State University. The majority of Iloilo’s graduates find immediate employment and are hired by international organizations worldwide
ILOILO IS STRATEGIC – Iloilo is a center for trade and finance. Because of its strategic location, it serves as a gateway to the neighboring island of Panay. It is also connected to Capiz, Antique, and Guimaras.
Iloilo’s BPOs handle a wide range of services that include (but are not limited to): sales, lead generation, administrative tasks, customer support, human resources, finance, and technical support.
A select few, including NEARSOL, offer facilities implementation and I.T. Solutions – a one-stop-shop solution for global organizations who seek to ramp up operations.
Take your business to the next level with NEARSOL Iloilo
Enjoy lower costs, uninterrupted power supply and services, fewer natural calamities, and most important of all, a vibrant workforce.
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NEARSOL is a US-based BPO and service company that offers clients custom-design solutions. With major hubs in Manila and Iloilo, it began operations in 2011 and has since gained a strong presence in the Latin American regions, the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific, winning many awards for quality and service along the way. Most recent of which is its Great Place to Work-Certified™ Recognition, a global accreditation that tells stakeholders what employees think of the company culture.
Visit our LinkedIn to learn more about our company and our global footprint./PN
