Philippine BPO eyes expansion in Calabarzon region
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES — The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines is strengthening its presence in the Calabarzon region due to its skilled workforce and enticing government incentives.
IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer Celesta Ilagan said Calabarzon provinces have “rolled out the red carpet” to the BPO industry, offering tax holidays for up to two years for firms relocating there.
“The further they (BPO firms) move outside of Metro Manila, the more government incentives they are entitled to,” she added.
Ilagan noted that Batangas is developing as the next “digital city,” with the Aboitiz Group investing in infrastructure like the first building dedicated solely to BPOs inside an industrial estate.
In a recent event, IBPAP presented its five-year roadmap for the BPO sector, emphasizing the advantages of Philippine Economic Zones. Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas attended the event and is “exceptionally bullish” on expanding the BPO sector.
Supporting this vision, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved Proclamation No. 204, allocating land to expand the Lima Technology Center in Batangas. This is expected to pull in investments worth PHP864.224 million (US$15.2 million).
On a larger scale, IBPAP expects the Philippine BPO sector to add 1.1 million jobs by 2028, with its revenue forecasted to soar to US$59 billion, up from the current US$35.4 billion.
