MANILA, Philippines?NCO Group Inc., a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm based in the United States, is expanding its Philippine operations with a new call center at the Clark Freeport, north of Manila.

The facility is expected to create up to 15,000 new jobs, said the Philippines? special envoy on trade.

Maria Romela Bengzon, honorary investment and trade representative, said in an interview that NCO Clark Philippines Inc. was scheduled to inaugurate the facility this Friday.

She said the facility would take in an initial batch of 5,000 employees.

President gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the launch, ?as NCO committed to this investment during her trip to New York last year,? Bengzon said.

She added that NCO Clark was expected to take in additional workers of up to 10,000 when a second building at Clark?which the company is subleasing from Philexcel Business Park?becomes available for call center operations.

NCO Group, based in Pennsylvania, put up its first call center in Quezon City, which has 150 seats, Bengzon said.

The facility at Clark will be the latest addition to its global network of about 140 call centers, she said.

?NCO?s expansion is part of the government?s efforts to promote Clark as an investment location,? Bengzon added.

She said the Bengzon Law Firm, of which she is managing partner, facilitated the NCO expansion.

?We are helping the government in luring in more investors to the country, especially to the Clark Freeport zone, which is being positioned as a location for BPO and manufacturing businesses.

Clark is one of a number of so-called ?next wave BPO cities? outside Metro Manila that can host call centers. Edited by INQUIRER.net