Philippines’ Cebu City Council Approves March 28 as BPO Day
CEBU, PHILIPPINES — The Cebu City Council has officially designated March 28 as “BPO Day,” following the approval of a proposed ordinance on its third and final reading.
Authored by Councilor Pancrasio “Francis” Esparis, the ordinance received unanimous support during the council’s regular session on April 24.
Esparis expressed his satisfaction in a phone interview with Cebu Daily News (CDN), noting the council’s recognition of the BPO sector’s significant role in the local economy.
“They also saw the big importance of giving worth to our workers in the BPO industry,” Esparis stated.
Industry recognition and celebration plans
The establishment of BPO Day aims to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of both employees and employers within the BPO industry, which is a major driver of Cebu City’s economic growth.
Although specific activities and incentives for the day are yet to be detailed, the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) will coordinate the celebrations.
“So that they can give help in the celebration because we already recognized them as one of the biggest industries who helped in the economy of the country,” Esparis explained.
Community response
The announcement has been met with positive reactions from BPO employees in Cebu City.
Fatima Benido, a team leader at a local BPO company, told CDN that recognition was an honor. “Our lives revolve around working for a living, compromising our health and somehow getting jealous of those who work during the day and live a normal life as we should,” she said, appreciating the acknowledgment of their hard work and contribution.
BPO employees Juliana Marie Rodenas and Rey Jie also expressed their gratitude, with Rodenas highlighting the industry’s stable employment and work-from-home opportunities and Jie appreciating the local government’s recognition of the BPO industry’s significant economic contributions.
Future prospects and industry evolution
The ordinance is now awaiting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s approval. Initially, the celebration was proposed for April 1, but Vice President of the Cebu Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Organization Vice President Darwin John Moises suggested March 28 to commemorate the industry’s shift to a work-from-home model during the lockdown.
Moises also proposed renaming the day to IT-BPM Day to reflect the industry’s evolution beyond traditional call centers.
Cebu continues to be a leading outsourcing hub in the Philippines. The city’s office space market is expected to see strong growth in 2024, driven by the expanding BPO sector.
