110507-Small call centers pool ideas

Monday, November 5, 2007 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES News DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Call Center Alliance, Inc. will meet this Nov. 9 to chart a clearer strategy for developing its members, consisting of small- and medium-sized call centers with capacities of 10-200 seats. Joji Ilagan-Bian, president of the organization, cited a need to discuss issues and concerns facing their members and to pool ideas on possible solutions. She said the one-day discussion and consultative workshop on Nov. 9 at the Commission on Information and Communications Technology in Diliman, Quezon City, "aims at providing a venue for small call center owners and operators to discuss key issues and concerns, as well as various trends and developments affecting the small and medium call center and allied enterprises today." One topic for discussion is how members could qualify for existing government programs and initiatives intended for the sector’s growth. They will also discuss with experts how to improve their physical and technical capabilities, human resources requirements and the financial aspects in running this type of business. "Those who are thinking of opening their own small call center may also find this forum interesting and helpful," Ms. Bian said. She noted that these call centers "are serving as strong conduits for ICT (information and communications technology) growth in their respective localities, as they create a ripple effect in the local economy with their increasing demand for technology, infrastructure and manpower." In this city, the Department of Trade and Industry regional office had said there were five call centers operating with less than 10 seats. Teolulo Pasawa, head of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center, said there were others not registered as call centers because of their even smaller size, but still fulfilling the same role. — CQF

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