The Bacolod IT Focus Team will showcase the city's Information and Communications Technology advantage in the e-Services Philippines Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition on February 15 and 16 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Manila.

Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairperson of the Bacolod IT Focus Team, who has been designated by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to represent the city, yesterday said the event will be an opportunity for Bacolod to be "under one roof" with international players and position itself as the next ICT hub in the Philippines.

"We have what it takes to become an ICT," she said, but "if we don't promote ourself, other (cities) will have a better chance." She said Bacolod will have to compete with 10 other cities, including Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

At the e-Services, Asia's premier Information Technology Enterprises global sourcing conference and exhibition, the IT Focus Team is expected to find more opportunities as officials of foreign companies will look for ICT sites during the event, Batapa-Sigue also said.

Batapa-Sigue said she is looking at the participation of the two accredited call center training schools in Bacolod, Lasaltech and VMA Global College, as well as schools offering ICT courses in the e-Services exhibits and technical sessions.

The information age leaves local governments with no choice but to consider laying the foundation for a strong a knowledge-based economy in their areas, she said.

Government projections show the Philippine cyberservices sector will offer 1.3 million jobs from 2006 to 2010.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said during the e-Services launching last week the outsourcing business is projected to rake in $12.4 billion by 2010 after $3.63 billion in 2006.

There are currently 244,675 workers in the country's BPO sector and the number is expected to jump to 920,764 in 2010.*NLG

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