BACOLOD CITY — The number of economic zones for information technology (IT) firms here and nearby areas has reportedly surged since early 2010, prompting an industry group to vie for a boost in the city’s standing in a yearly list of attractive investment sites.
In the early part of 2010, Bacolod had only less than 10 hectares in presidentially proclaimed IT parks accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), said Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairman of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT).
IT parks are areas wherein industry players can set up to qualify for lower corporate taxes and easier licensing processes.
Since early 2010, there has been several more major IT parks that have been approved by Malacañang, Ms. Batapa-Sigue said.
She said that two more major IT parks were granted presidential proclamations in recent times: the Northpoint Technohub of Ayala Land, Inc. measuring roughly 13 hectares in the neighboring Talisay City and the Two Sanparq building in Brgy. Mandalagan in Bacolod City.
These come on top of nine IT parks totaling some 20 hectares that already have presidential approval: Luxur Plaza IT Centre, Monfort IT Center, San Antonio Park Square, The Block IT Park, Robinsons Cybergate IT Centre, Bacolod Information Technology Park, Lopue’s East IT Center, Lopue’s South IT Center, and St. Francis IT Centre.
Three other IT parks totaling some 40 hectares are meanwhile awaiting Malacañang approval as these have already been accredited by the PEZA, Ms. Batapa-Sigue said, citing Central District IT Park on Lacson St., Grand IT Park on Araneta St. and another operated by SM Investments Corp.
“[There’s] a leap in real estate availability,” Ms. Batapa-Sigue said further.
According to the BNEFIT, the outsourcing industry in Bacolod has generated almost 10,000 direct jobs which translate to annual total salaries of more than P1 billion.
With these developments, Ms. Batapa-Sigue said the BNEFIT is eyeing the top spot for Bacolod in the 2011 evaluation for the country’s Top 10 Next Wave Cities.
In 2009, Bacolod was in fifth place. It moved two notches higher to third spot last year.
“We are confident that this year will even be better because of what has transpired after the 2010 results especially in the area of human capital development and infrastructure…” Ms. Batapa-Sigue said.
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By: NLG
Source: Business World, Aug. 31, 2011
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