SAMAR, PHILIPPINES – The Northern Samar provincial government is actively positioning the province as a potential business processing and outsourcing (BPO) investment destination to boost job opportunities.
Head of the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO) Jhon Allen Berbon noted that the initiative was timely, as there were ongoing enhancements in mobile and broadband services resulting from new cell sites constructed by Globe.
“Residents and businesses can anticipate reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. We are also preparing Catarman town to meet the requirements for a Smart City designation,” Berbon said in a phone interview Thursday.
A Smart City designation, awarded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under its Digital Cities Program, is given to cities or towns that have completed the required digital roadmap.
This initiative seeks to revitalize cities nationwide by fostering digital innovation hubs, which attract investments and generate employment opportunities.
Berbon noted that Globe is collaborating with TowerCos to install new cell sites in Northern Samar. “This expansion is part of Globe’s commitment to meeting the data requirements of emerging industries such as BPO companies that are looking to locate in the province,” he added.
Participation in BPO industry conference
Northern Samar PEDIPO participated in the 8th Contact Islands 2024 conference at the Fili Hotel in Nustar Cebu from July 24 to 26. Invited by the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), the event brought together nearly 1,000 BPO executives, government agencies, and local government units to address industry challenges such as cybersecurity, infrastructure, workforce upskilling, taxation uncertainties, AI, and macroeconomic conditions.
“The event provides the province with a platform to present Northern Samar as a viable location for BPO company expansion,” Berbon stated.
