MANILA, Philippines--The business process outsourcing sector may continue to rake in millions of dollars and generate thousands of jobs for the country, but traditional premier BPO locations may lose out on the boom if appropriate measures to attract investors are not put in place.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado himself admitted that Makati was already lagging behind in the BPO race, particularly to more aggressive Metro Manila cities such as Quezon City, Pasig and Mandaluyong.

?It is unfortunate that the country?s acknowledged financial capital is losing out in the BPO boom. The impact is being felt by mostly the middle class residents of Makati who would otherwise be recipients of jobs and business opportunities in BPOs, especially call centers,? he said.

He said this could also create a ripple effect on allied sectors such as construction and real estate.

?I have received unflattering reports about the way city hall has been treating our businessmen and potential investors. This has greatly contributed to the drop in the city?s overall competitiveness as a business haven,? he said. ?Makati needs to regain its competitive edge. The private sector is looking to the city government to institute programs to attract BPO investments.?

He noted that Makati did not figure in global advisory firm Tholons? list of top global outsourcing destinations.

The BPO sector last year registered more than $7.2 billion in revenue, a 19-percent increase from $6.1 billion in 2008, according to data from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.