President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday cited the contribution of the information and communications technology sector, specifically the business process outsourcing players, to her administration's target to create at least six to 10 million jobs by 2010, a press release from Malacañang said.

At the inauguration this morning of the first Sykes Enterprises Inc. Center in Cebu province, the President thanked Chuck Sykes, president and chief operating officer of the global company, for the direct jobs as well as the indirect employment opportunities created with the establishment of six Sykes centers in the Philippines.

"May you have more Sykes (centers) here in the Philippines. Thank you for the 10,000 jobs you have given the Filipinos and also for the jobs you have given for the businesses around your BPO centers," the President said in the press release.

"Even if they don't have the call center English, they get jobs because of you," the President told Sykes, referring to the thousands of indirect employment created around the BPO centers such as those benefiting janitors, waiters, jeepney drivers, among others, the press release added.

Sykes' senior vice president and managing director for Asia-Pacific Rim Mike Henderson said the Philippines' booming economy made Sykes decide to "expand our business" in the country.

"We continue to look for ways on creating jobs and contribute to the local economy," Henderson said, adding that with the government's support, they "look forward to expanding our business even more."

The President led the ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of the marker at the main entrance of Sykes-Cebu located on F. Cabahug Street, Cebu.

The President then made a quick tour of the call center operations area and interacted with some of the Cebuano staff of Sykes.

In its Cebu center alone, Sykes has 1,700 employees and aims to increase that number to 2,700.The inauguration of the Sykes-Cebu coincided with the 10th anniversary of Sykes in the Philippines, the Malacañang press release also said.*

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