Three international firms are seriously eyeing Bacolod City as their next IT site, Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said.

NeoIT consultancy has identified eight cities outside Manila that are likely to develop into attractive outsourcing destinations and Bacolod ranked number six, Batapa-Sigue also said.

She added that, in terms of English proficiency, quality and size of labor pool and quality of the city's tertiary schools, Bacolod ranked no. 5 and is ready to host these three international locators, which she did not identify. "We already have three local players operating in Bacolod and have received many inquiries coming from local residents as to how to put up IT their own IT enterprises," she said.

Bacolod has three IT zones accredited by the PEZA -the Block at Lopue's East, Bacolod City IT Park in Brgy. Estefania and Robinson's Metro Bacolod, Batapa-Sigue said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday lauded the Bacolod IT Focus Team, composed of individuals from the different sectors, whom he said are dedicated to get a share of this new industry that has captured many of the big cities. He said that he is glad that even before the big players come in, Bacolod City is among the cities considered in pace with the technology growth and the developments in the national and international scene.

This will, somehow, make the city a better alternative for investments with the coming in of SM and the successful hosting of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, with the MassKara Festival being established now as a top tourist attraction of the country and the Chinese community bonding together to come up with an activity that is going to help spur the economy and enhance business, Leonardia said.

Commissioner Damian Domingo Mapa of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology will be the guest of honor during the first Bacolod Information Technology fair on Dec. 18 to 20 at the Robinson's Place Bacolod.

The fair is spearheaded by the Bacolod City government through the Bacolod IT Focus Team and the IT Schools Network of Bacolod and Neg. Occ. and Robinson's Place.*CGS

back to top