Major IT-BPM firms eye Bohol as next major Philippine outsourcing hub
BOHOL, PHILIPPINES — Bohol province is positioning itself as the Philippines’ next major information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) destination, with global firms like CBRE actively promoting Tagbilaran City to investors.
While challenges like real estate readiness remain, the province’s growing talent pool and strategic push could make it the next Iloilo or Bacolod in the outsourcing boom.
Strategic push to join IT-BPM’s ‘Next Wave Cities’
Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE), an international real estate services and investment provider, is now promoting Tagbilaran City, Bohol as a potential source of outsourcing, citing its untapped labor force and estimated cost-effectiveness.
Governor Erico Aris Aumentado also emphasized that the province is committed to addressing the demand for office spaces, which is a positive indicator of investor movement to emerging destinations.
“Your expertise in helping companies find the right spaces in the right locations is crucial, and we are eager to work with you in exploring how Bohol can meet the growing demand for business solutions and office space in the ICT industry, as well as in other potential sectors,” Aumentado said pertaining to CBRE’s visit.
Currently, Bohol hosts four major IT-BPM firms—Ibex, TaskUs, Sagility, and Genpact—employing around 5,000 locals. Such cities, promoted by CBRE as Next Wave Cities and even by outsourcing firms, are starting to attract interest from firms that have been more successful in Iloilo and Bacolod, said Jie Espinosa, country head of CBRE.
Nonetheless, Bohol will have to contend with other emerging players, such as Metro Rizal, Legazpi, and General Santos, all of which are competing in the Philippine outsourcing sector.
Real estate and infrastructure: Make-or-break factors
While Bohol’s talent pool is a selling point, Espinosa warned that available real estate remains a critical hurdle.
IT-BPM firms typically require at least 2,000 square meters of flexible office space with backup power and multiple telecom redundancies—standards many provincial locations struggle to meet.
CBRE suggests developers offer short-term leasing options to let companies test operations before committing to large-scale builds.
The province must also address logistical gaps, from reliable internet infrastructure to commercial-ready buildings.
Jam Macalino, head for property management of CBRE, noted that outsourcing firms prioritize locations with scalable spaces, as rapid expansion is common. Without immediate improvements, Bohol risks losing investors to rival “Next Wave Cities” with more developed property markets.
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