10 ‘next wave cities’ for BPO sector named

Ten cities in key provinces have been identified as prime, prospective hubs that will not only provide alternative locations for IT-business process management companies seeking to expand outside Metro Manila, but will also support the stellar growth performance of the industry.

These so-called Next Wave Cities (NWCs) were identified as Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Dagupan, Dasmariñas, Dumaguete, Lipa, Malolos, Naga, Sta. Rosa, and Taytay. The list came from the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), which used a score card to rate a location’s ability to enable and support the entry and growth of IT-BPM companies.

IBPAP president and CEO Jose Mari Mercado said in a briefing yesterday that the 10 cities were selected out of 42 locations that were assessed based on talent availability, infrastructure, business environment and cost.

“Through this (initiative), we provide IT-BPM locators with a short list so they don’t have to spend money to do due-diligence as to which cities to go to, particularly for those wanting to expand outside Metro Manila. It becomes easier for investors. And once these cities have been declared, what happens is that the local ICT councils themselves now start working closely with the industry in anticipation that the investors will start knocking at their doors,” Mercado explained.

Mercado also identified 10 Emerging Cities that potentially have the foundation to attract IT-BPM locators and soon become next wave cities. These are the cities of Balanga, Batangas, Iriga, Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tarlac, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

Davao City and Iloilo City were also named as the new centers of excellence, given the continued growth and maturity of the IT-BPM industry in these locations.