Sunday, July 7, 2013
CEBU -- The information and communication technology (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO), and tourism industries continue to gain ground in Central Visayas region.
The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Central Visayas reported that the region generated US$516 million (about P21.67 billion at P42 to the dollar) in revenues in 2012 from the ICT and BPO industries. The said figure represents a 12 percent increase compared to the 2011 revenue.
According to the report, 17 new foreign BPO companies opened in Cebu in 2012. Negros Oriental province is also becoming an ICT hub, with 12 locators.
In the region, the ICT and BPO industry has over 100,000 employees.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, also RDC chairperson, said he will try to ride on this momentum for his next three years in office.
The mayor, referring to the international research company, said he expects more saying: “Let us continue to make our city a great city. In January this year, Cebu City was chosen as the number eight global outsourcing destinations by Tholons,” said Rama.
Waves
“The BPO industry is said to achieve its target of US$25 billion in revenues and 1.3 million full-time employees by 2016,” Rama said when he made his inaugural speech last July 1, 2013.
The newly reelected mayor said he will also support the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) in its program called Mega Cebu 2050: Making WAVES (wholesome, advanced, vibrant, equitable and sustainable).
Rama serves as co-chairperson of the MCDCB but the Cebu City Government is not an active participant, as the previous Cebu City Council did not authorize Rama to join in behalf of the city.
As far as tourism is concerned, Central Visayas saw an increase of 14.6 percent in tourist arrivals.
A total of 2.9-million tourists visited at least one of the four provinces in Central Visayas: Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor.
Of the figure, 1.75 million were domestic tourists, while 1.18 million were foreign tourists.
Domestic tourism increased by 13.2 percent and foreign tourism increased by 16.8 percent.
Koreans, 40%
Close to 40 percent of the international tourists were Koreans. About 17 percent were Japanese tourists.
“Growth in tourism fueled air travel, resulting in more domestic and foreign flights. The number of domestic flights increased by 10 percent to over 60,000,” the RDC 7 report read.
Passenger traffic in Mactan, Dumaguete City and Tagbilaran City airports reached 7.9 million in 2012 or an increase of seven percent from the 2011 figure.
Rama was surprised late last month that Cebu City was also named as one of the top destinations for retirees. His policy direction would also be geared toward the development of the city to be more attractive to tourists.
According to the US News and the World Report, Cebu is one of 21 “great choices for retirees.”
Meets needs
Cebu was the only one from the Philippines and was named along with Abruzzo, Italy; Cayo, Belize; Copper Coast, Ireland; Hoi An, Vietnam; and Panama City Beaches, Panama.
“These are places where all the things of importance to retirees, including the weather, health care, cost of living, the options for establishing residency and the quality of life qualifies as the best the world has to offer,” said the article published online last Jan. 25.
Rama, meanwhile, is still tight-lipped on whether or not he has decided to run for the presidency of the League of Cities of the Philippines, but said his final decision hinges on President Benigno Aquino III’s blessing.
“If the President tells me not to run, then I won’t be a spoiler,” Rama said.
Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, the leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), already know about his decision. (Sun.Star Cebu)
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