Iloilo City among top 100 cities in outsourcing industry

ILOILO City recently emerged as one of the cities in the top 100 emerging locations from the six highly competitive Southeast Asian countries to accelerate in the Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city’s current 2012 IT standing was ranked by India-based Tholons, an advisory, investment and research firm.

Tholons is a leading full-service strategic advisory firm for global outsourcing and research that provides strategic actionable advice backed by solid location analysis and strategic growth and expansion services.

Iloilo is ranked number 92 in 2012, a significant increase from 98th in 2011. Other Philippine cities within the top 100 cities are Manila National Capital Region as fourth, Cebu in the ninth spot, Davao as number 69, and Sta. Rosa Laguna as number 86.

These Philippine cities are listed with the top-ranked Southeast Asian cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, Singapore, Jakarta in Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand.

The Tholons’s report showed that Manila garners the top spot in Southeast Asian rankings of Tholons 2012 Top 100 outsourcing destination. The city remains as the outsourcing hotbed of the Philippines with major delivery centers from companies like HP, IBM, Dell, Convergys and Teleperformance.Tholons also reported that the Philippines has recently surpassed India as the call center capital of the world with an estimated 400,000 call center agents compared to India’s 350,000.

Mabilog said Iloilo City is the education capital of Western Visayas and English is the main language taught in colleges and universities. The IT-BPO industry has recognized this pool capital of educated manpower of Iloilo and many outsourcing firms had established offices here.

Iloilo City has already addressed the power and water problems and started rehabilitation of old roads and building new roads to open up new areas for commercial and industrial growth

source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2012/01/11/city-among-top-100-cities-outsourcing-industry-200027

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Iloilo City gov't boasts of biz permit release in 20 minutes

By Wenna A. Berondo (The Freeman) Updated November 29, 2011 12:00 AM

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines - Good news for those who want to apply for business permits from the Iloilo City Hall.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government will cut the processing time of applying for business permits from 15 days to only 20 minutes.

"I have made a commitment that from almost 10 months in 2010 to make the processing of business permits to 15 days in 2011. Now, I made a commitment that by 2012, we'll make the processing time of business permits in only 20 minutes," the mayor said.

Mabilog made this announcement during the signing and launching of the partnership project on breastfeeding at a mall in this city over the weekend. This drew applause from the audience, especially the members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo Inc.

The mayor also said he wanted to make Iloilo a business-friendly city by addressing the concerns of the investors particularly on flooding, high cost of electricity, lack of water and bureaucratic red tape in the city.

"This is to show how sincere the city government is in improving its service to the public," Mabilog said adding that, under his administration, the city government will continue implementing a lot of "firsts."

He said the new City Hall building at the Plaza Libertad, which is expected to be operational before this year ends, will be the first "green building" of the government.

The air conditioning units in the new City Hall will be solar-powered and it will also have a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater that would be used in the toilets of the building. These systems are expected to lower down the electricity and water consumption of the city, he said.

Mabilog further said the new building will have a breastfeeding and child minding center, which is another first in a government building.

The P710 million new City Hall building, which broke ground in February 2010, courted a lot of controversy because of allegations of overpricing, corruption and delay in its construction but these were all denied by city officials. __________________

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Iloilo ang Banwa Ko

"Iloilo ang banwa ko guinahingadlan
matam-is nga pulong ang amon guinmat-an
indi ko ikaw bulagan
banwa kong nahamut-an
ikaw ang guintunaan sang kalipayan

Ilonggo ako nga tunay
nga nagapuyo sa higad sang baybay
manami magkiay-kiay
sa tagipusuon
bug-os ang kalipay."

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Coal plant embarks on P1.5 million Iloilo watershed reforestation project

Iloilo River  @ the Heart of the City

By TARA YAP
November 27, 2011, 6:27pm

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant owned by the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) is embarking on a P1.5-million reforestation project at the Jalaur Watershed River Basin.

PEDC, a subsidiary of the Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), part of the Metrobank Group of Companies, signed a deal with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 6) for a reforestation program in a 40-hectare area of Bulabog-Putian National Park in the Iloilo towns of Dingle and San Enrique.

GBPC president Arthur Aguilar said it is part of its corporate social responsibility in protecting the environment.

Rene Morente, GBCP assistant vice president for health, service, and safety, disclosed that 1,111 seedlings per hectare will be planted in three years as a means of reducing the coal plant’s carbon emission.

Morente stressed that the coal plant is taking the challenge of implementing the carbon sink project with a long-term goal of sequestering carbon emissions, mitigating the illeffects of climate change, and increasing vegetation condition.

He also said that that the Jalaur Watershed River Basin is PEDC’s chosen beneficiary site as it is located within the only national park in Iloilo province. Meanwhile, a similar environmental program was also launched by GBPC’s 246-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Cebu province.

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Esplanade project kicks off next week

By: Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE P48.44-MILLION Iloilo River Esplanade Project will kick off next week after the architect of the project met with the contractor and Iloilo City government yesterday.

Architect Paolo Alcazaren arrived in the city Wednesday to discuss details of his design with winning bidder Roprim Construction and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Roprim won the contract after bidding P38.46 million for the project which is P9.98 million less than the approved budget of P48.44 million.

Alcazaren, who also designed the world renowned Singapore Quay, was tapped by Senator Franklin Drilon to plan out the esplanade which seeks to revive and preserve the Iloilo River.

Drilon has set aside part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel for the project which will expand the Treñas Boulevard, a popular fitness haven in the city.

After the meeting at the DPWH, Alcazaren proceeded to the Iloilo City Hall to meet Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Mabilog said their discussions centered on the design and how the contractor will undertake the project.

Representatives from City Engineer’s Office were also present in the meeting to get a feel of the project.

“Eventually, it is the city government that will manage and maintain the esplanade and there is a need for the city engineer to be involved. We don’t want the project to obstruct certain portions of the boulevard such as the drainage which might pose problems to the esplanade in the future,” Mabilog said.

Mabilog said they are ready to assist Alcazaren and the contractor in the esplanade project.

http://thedailyguardian.net/index.php/local-news/4637-esplanade-project-kicks-off-next-week

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City eyes medium rise buildings for informal settlers

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 9 (PNA) -– The city government is mulling the establishment of medium rise buildings (MRBs) for informal settlers upon the recommendation of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that two lot properties of the city are suitable for such housing projects that will help decongest the number of informal settlers currently living in danger zones such as banks of the rivers and creeks.

Binay suggested to Mabilog the MRB concept which is a practice in Metro Manila to accommodate thousands of informal settlers with an initial funding for socialized housing project coming from the various shelter agencies under the Office of the Vice President.

Binay is currently the country’s housing czar and chairman of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and under him are key shelter agencies such as the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, Pag-IBIG Home Development Mutual Fund, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and Home Guaranty Corporation.

Mabilog said the Vice President saw the two city properties earmarked for MRBs during his visit here Tuesday. These are the city land property at Brgy. San Pedro, Molo district which was the former site of the new city hall building and the old slaughterhouse site at Barangay South San Jose, Molo.

The city mayor said the sites are suitable for MRBs of four to five stories to accommodate hundreds of informal setter families. The project will also use less land area for medium rise buildings.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=384689

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Iloilo Natives

Iloilo City Hall Aerial View

By MELITO SALAZAR JR.
October 17, 2011, 4:50am

MANILA, Philippines — In Iloilo City for the inauguration and office blessing of the Manila Bulletin branch, I am struck by the steady progress of the economy as borne out by the construction of new edifices and mushrooming of enterprises.

Searching for the cause, I can see that the quality educational institutions led by the University of the Philippines, University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University, and University of Iloilo, among others, are one reason.

But the determinant factor is really the people of Iloilo, their industriousness and their creativity. Among them, I would count the llonggo businessmen who, in the words of Iloilo Business Club Chairman Juan Jose Jamora III, have “their unique acumen, talent, and resilience.”

Fortunately on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Iloilo Business Club has produced a commemorative book, Ilonggo Intiatives, that “highlights the evolution of business in Iloilo and the brotherhood that was formed at the center of it all.”

The book covers a short history of business in Iloilo, the first 20 years of the club, looking into the future, business features, business directory, and profiles of llonggo leadership.

Reading the stories of the captains of industry, some names are familiar because of their national prominence – Dr. Alfonso Uy, the first Ilonggo president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Rex Drilon II, president of the Institute of Corporate Directors and formerly CEO of Ortigas and Company; Henry Chusuey, founder of the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa; and Edgar “Injap” Sia II of Mang Inasal.

There are others, whose achievements are etched in the Ilonggo mind but still have to pierce the national consciousness – Larry Borro, who together with wife Adelfa ensured that Ted’s Old Timer batchoy would become a Filipino favorite; Johnny Que, who parleyed an old Iloilo Supermart waffle machine into Johnny’s Waffle Time franchise with 400 outlets in Southeast Asia; Dr. Mary Lou Lacson Arcelo, who in answering a father’s call transformed the Iloilo Maritime Academy into the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University with four campuses in Iloilo and Bacolod serving around 50,000 students annually; Munding Robles, the marine biologist turned entrepreneur with the freshest seafood fare in Breakthrough restaurant; Roger Florete, who, from Bombo Radyo Philippines, branched to banking, water, agribusiness, real estate, pawnshop, jewelry, and the latest Iloilo watering hole, Plazuela de Iloilo; Angel de Leon Jr., who nurtured a microfinance institution, Taytay Sang Kauswagan, Inc., with an initial start-up capital of P2,500 to a fund worth billions assisting more than 300,000 small and micro entrepreneurs over 24 years; Bobby Pison, who with his siblings changed the Mandurriao farmland into one of the largest development projects in the city with Smallville and the Broadwalk, the new Ateneo de Iloilo campus, and Ayalalnad’s R900-million BPO facility; Manchie Jamora and his siblings, who created the sprawling Marymart Complex; Alfonso Tan with his International Builders Corporation, one of the largest construction firms in Western Visayas, and his acquisition of Del Rio and Iloilo Grand hotels; Jose “Pepe” Layson’s superstructures built all over Visayas and Mindanao by his JS Layson & Company, and Zinon Setas’ Prestress International with its prestressed concrete, among others.

My personal favorite is Sen Rafael III, who losing his job after Amon Trading shut down its operations during the Asian economic crisis in 1997 struggled to establish A.M. Builders’ Depot, with more than 41,000 different items in stock across 12 massive outlets in the Visayas, making his family enterprise one of the largest finishing construction supply stores in the region.

Over merienda in his home last Friday, he described the challenges of being an entrepreneur with no experience in accounting, warehousing, marketing, purchasing, and having to learn the business as he went along, banking only on his selling prowess. His travails and triumphs make his fellow Ilonggos proud, especially a cousin like me.

Ilonggo Initiatives will help change the national stereo type of Ilonggos as extravagant, ostentatious, carefree, and laidback into the realization that the prosperity of the Visayas comes from the vision, commitment, and untiring efforts of these men and women.

Business Bits. Quoting Rotary PDG Ramon “Toto” Cua Locsin, a founding member of the Iloilo Business Club, “the Dinagyang Festival in January would be the best opportunity to visit Iloilo and discover its treasure trove of entrepreneurship.”

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PAL increases flights to Iloilo

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/15/2011 1:37 PM | Updated as of 10/15/2011 1:41 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will increase flights to Iloilo to twice daily starting on Saturday, October 15.

This came after the airline suspended flight operations to Iloilo from September 28 to October 2 in connection with the transition process of the spin-off/outsourcing program, PAL said in a statement released Saturday.

It resumed flights to and from the Visayan province last October 3.

"The flag carrier aims to further increase its frequencies to Iloilo and other domestic destinations once manpower requirements are fully met by the third-party service providers," the airline said.

PAL implemented an outsourcing program last October 1, affecting some 2,300 airline workers involved in its airport services, catering and call center reservations.

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association has continued its protest against the outsourcing program.

SOURCE:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/...flights-iloilo

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Book features 30 business leaders who made Iloilo interesting

Ilonggo Initiative: The Changing Face of Business in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY – A newly issued coffee table book of 132 colorful pages focuses on 30 outstanding Ilonggo business leaders who contributed significantly to make this southern city and province an interesting place to a open a business endeavor.

The Iloilo Business Club (IBC) produced the book entitled “Ilonggo Initiative: The Changing Face of Business in Iloilo,” to mark the club’s 20th anniversary with a launching last September 30 at Hotel del Rio here.

The book features the business leaders who took the courage to put up industries based in this city and shared their business philosophies why they chose Iloilo as their flagship area of business and investments.

Some of the business leaders featured in the book are Dr. Rogelio Florete of Bombo Radyo network, Raymundo Robles of Breakthrough Restaurant, Dr. Sandra Sarabia-Gomez of Sarabia Manor Convention Center, Evelyn Que of Tinapayan, Atty. Joseph Go of Light of Glory Taxi, Virginia Segovia of Nissan, Johnny Que of Days Hotel and Washington Supermarket, fishing magnate Jun Borres, Marylou Arcelo of a maritime university, Alfonso Uy of Amigo Terrace Hotel, Pepe Layson of construction, Juan Jose Jamora of Marymart shopping mall and Larry Borro.

IBC is selling the book at a regular price of P1,800 at its office at Marymart Center III at Valeria Delgado streets in Iloilo City.

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Study marketability of int’l flights for new Iloilo Airport

Iloilo City's Night View: One fo the Reasons for Int'l Flight

By: Tara Yap

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is urging for a more comprehensive study on the marketability of international flights at the New Iloilo Airport.

“It needs further study,” said DOTC Assistant Secretary Ildefonso Patdu Jr.

“The decision whether or not to have international flights is dictated by market forces,” Patdu explained.

Patdu earlier disclosed that a P698-million fund is set for a five-year development plan that will reconfigure the airport of international standard from its current domestic operations into international operations.

Domestically, Patdu said that the New Iloilo Airport has performed beyond its expected capacity by exceeding air traffic forecast.

Air Transportation Office (ATO) recorded 1,570,361 actual passengers in 2010, which was way above the forecast of 1,222,000 passengers for the year. It also exceeded the 2015 forecast of 1,431,000 passengers.

In terms of aircraft movement, there were 15,902 flights in 2010. This is also way above the forecast of 10,970 flights for 2010 and the 11,700 flights for 2015.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. echoed Patdu’s suggestions into having feasibility study for international flights.

Defensor’s own suggestion is focused into analyzing the number of Ilonggos who are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the area where they work for a possible direct flight from and to the New Iloilo Airport.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has earlier announced the possibility of direct flights from Hong Kong or China for the 2012 Dinagyang Festival.

However, former Department of Tourism (DOT 6) regional director Edwin Trompeta said there is a need to reassess the tourism potential of Iloilo and to market it as destination other than the seasonal Dinagyang festivities.

Trompeta said Iloilo is only a gateway for tourists going to the popular beach destination of Boracay and other places in the island of Panay.

Atty. Jose Tesoro, former Civil Aeronautics Board member, said Iloilo must sell itself for tourists to come.

The New Iloilo Airport, built of international standard, has been in operation since June 2007.

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Iloilo City mayor leads business campaign in Korea, China

Iloilo City's New Central Business District

by Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here will lead an aggressive business campaign in South Korea and China this month of October 2011 to open the doors of this southern Visayan city to business investments and opportunities.

“We are now open to international markets and positively back on the business trail,” Mabilog said during the Board of Investment (BOI)-led orientation-seminar on the 2011 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) on Friday, September 30 at Sarabia Manor in this city.

Mabilog said his delegation composed of Ilonggo businessmen are leaving for South Korea passing the Incheon International Airport on October 8, 2011 to meet with Korean business leaders and local government counterparts and present business opportunities of Iloilo.

Mabilog said they are also going to discuss the possible direct flight between Iloilo and Incheon to take advantage of positive response of Koreans currently studying and residing in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo delegation is also going to Jeju City in Korea to present Iloilo’s business opportunities to Korea’s business leaders, especially for public-private partnership (PPP) on the P400 million Guimaras-Iloilo ferry terminal (GIFT) project.

Mabilog said he is also eyeing sisterhood and twinning agreements between Iloilo City and the two Korean cities.

On the other hand, Mabilog will also lead a delegation to Yulin, China on October 18, 2011 as official guests of the Chinese sister city. Another city sisterhood agreement will be forged between Iloilo City and Huabei City in China.

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Tourism enterprise zones for Iloilo pushed

The Original Seat of Government of Iloilo City

ILOILO City – The city and province of Iloilo could further boost their competitiveness in the tourism market by establishing tourism enterprise zones, said Atty. Joy Balauitan, deputy general manager for administration of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

“Iloilo is a beautiful place, with several investors, and with appropriate infrastructure facilities that could qualify for the establishment of a Tourism Enterprise Zone,” according to Balauitan.

Local governments and the tourism stakeholders should apply with TIEZA, a corporate body mandated to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) as well as develop, manage and supervise tourism projects in the country, Balauitan suggested.

Baluauitan was in Iloilo City to conduct a “road show” on the “Guidelines for the Designation and Supervision of Tourism Enterprise Zones and the Administration of Incentives” under Republic Act 9395 (Tourism Act of 2009).

“We are here to introduce to the local government officials and investors our services, and if they are interested we are ready to help and provide them with incentives,” Balauitan said.

RA 9593 reorganized the Philippine Tourism Authority into the TIEZA to become the infrastructure arm of the DOT.

TIEZA requires applicants to have:
* at least five hectares and sufficient in size, such that it may be further utilized in bringing in new investments in tourism establishments and services;
* the area has historical and cultural significance, environmental beauty;
* the area must also have access through transportation infrastructure, among others.

Who may apply with TIEZA?

Balauitan said any interested local government, private investors, or joint venture between local government and the private sector.

TIEZA will evaluate and approve applications for Tourism Enterprise Zone.

The minimum amount of investment required to be entitled to incentives provided under the RA 9593 shall not be less than $5 million. (T. Villavert, PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r06&id=56563

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Iloilo City wins ‘Gawad Pamana ng Lahi’ award

Iloilo City Watefront Area

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 26 (PNA) – This city has notched up another accomplishment by winning the regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The award is given to outstanding local government units that have excelled in various performance indicators based on the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), including the Seal of Good Housekeeping, awards received, and innovative programs and projects.

Iloilo City bested the cities of San Carlos, which placed second, and Bacolod in third place.

It automatically qualifies for the Gawad National Award next year.

“This shows we are very good in managing our city, proving our strength in governance and administration,” Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said.

The city will receive P150,000 with either trophy or plaque in the awarding ceremony to be held October 11 in Metro Manila, according to Atty. Ferdinand Panes, DILG Iloilo City director.

He said the city scored high in the LGPMS that covers administrative, social, economic and environmental governance during the validation conducted by a regional team of evaluators on September 23.

It also helped that the city is a recipient of the DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping, presented many innovations and programs, and has received both national and international awards, Panes added.

Other Gawad winners are Negros Occidental for the provincial category, followed by Aklan and Capiz.

New Lucena, Iloilo was declared winner for the municipal category, with Anilao, Iloilo in second place, and Pan-ay, Capiz in third place. (PNA)
LAP/AJP/LMSinay/vlo

source: www.pna.gov.ph

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Iloilo City eyes P60B investments, P3B infrastructures until 2013

Aerial View of Iloilo River @ Gaisano Area

By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – This highly urbanized city in the Visayas is eyeing an ambitious but doable P60 billion in investments and P3 billion in infrastructures for three years or until 2013.

This was announced by city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog during the orientation seminar on the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) led by the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Department of Trade and Industry regional office in Western Visayas.

Mabilog said the investments of the private had already started coming in since 2010 by citing the entry of Megaworld Corp. and Ayalaland Corp. and other business locators such as call centers.

Road infrastructures, electric power and water supply and other amenities are already being addressed and waiting for business to come in, the city mayor said.

“Iloilo City is open for business and the city alone is considered as the most progressive area outside of Metro Manila for investments as an important next wave city,” Mabilog said.

“Manila, Cebu and Davao are already congested and saturated. We are here to offer business opportunities and together, we work to make our country grow and develop,” the city mayor added.

On the other hand, Mabilog also assured BOI Governor Pelagio Tan Ricalde an office space for BOI at the new cityhall upon completion by the end of this year. BOI offices are located in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

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Iloilo City mayor leads business campaign in Korea, China

Iloilo Capitol Area @ Bonifacio Drive

by Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here will lead an aggressive business campaign in South Korea and China this month of October 2011 to open the doors of this southern Visayan city to business investments and opportunities.

“We are now open to international markets and positively back on the business trail,” Mabilog said during the Board of Investment (BOI)-led orientation-seminar on the 2011 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) on Friday, September 30 at Sarabia Manor in this city.

Mabilog said his delegation composed of Ilonggo businessmen are leaving for South Korea passing the Incheon International Airport on October 8, 2011 to meet with Korean business leaders and local government counterparts and present business opportunities of Iloilo.

Mabilog said they are also going to discuss the possible direct flight between Iloilo and Incheon to take advantage of positive response of Koreans currently studying and residing in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo delegation is also going to Jeju City in Korea to present Iloilo’s business opportunities to Korea’s business leaders, especially for public-private partnership (PPP) on the P400 million Guimaras-Iloilo ferry terminal (GIFT) project.

Mabilog said he is also eyeing sisterhood and twinning agreements between Iloilo City and the two Korean cities.

On the other hand, Mabilog will also lead a delegation to Yulin, China on October 18, 2011 as official guests of the Chinese sister city. Another city sisterhood agreement will be forged between Iloilo City and Huabei City in China.

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