By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos
Norte—Expert Global Solutions (EGS), a major Information Technology and
Business Process Management (IT-BPM) is here to stay for good as it begins
construction of its own facility in the country’s most business-friendly
municipality, San Nicolas.
Two years ago, EGS began
recruiting hundreds of Ilocanos which were brought to Clark, Pampanga for
training. Six months after, the company set up a temporary office at
the i-Hub, an Ilocos Norte government-owned facility.
As Ilocos Norte province
continues to stir economic progress, setting up investor-friendly packages and
incentives to create more local jobs, EGS President Rainero “Bong” Borja said,
“We are here to stay and fulfill a promise.”
Attended by local officials
led by Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos and other
stakeholders, the two-storey building of the EGS broke ground at the Valdez
Center here in this town.
In partnership with the Venvi Group of Companies, a
multi-million real estate developer in San Nicolas, the EGS building which will
occupy at least 5,000 square meters is expected to be completed by October or
six months from now.
Like Accenture which has an
on-going building construction near the EGS site, VENVI has also partnered with
EGS under a built-to-suit scheme.
“This is another milestone
for Ilocos Norte and San Nicolas. We are a believer of the Ilocano talent and
we commit to develop it. Setting up the building is a great challenge to put up
in the next six months,” said Atty. Hilario “Larry” Valdez, chief executive
officer and chairperson of the VENVI Group of Companies.
For his part, San Nicolas Vice
Mayor Alfredo “Boying” P. Valdez Jr. said San Nicolas has sustained its lead as
the country’s most business-friendly municipality as big time commercial
establishments continue to rise and expand their businesses here.
To date, EGS Ilocos facility
has hired about 200 Ilocano residents running world-class program from major telecommunication
and healthcare provider in the United States.
“This is a testament that we
have great people in Ilocos Norte engaged in sophisticated high level work.
This is to show that we are not just recruiting people. Next beginning is to
have a real permanent facility in Ilocos Norte,” Mr. Borja added.
The coming of EGS to Ilocos
Norte is the result of various initiatives by the Ilocos Norte government and
the Metro Ilocos Norte ICT Council (MINICTC) which is composed of
representatives from various government agencies, private organizations, and
educational institutions in the province. MINICTC is affiliated with the
National ICT Confederation of the Philippines.
Under the Task Force Trabaho
(TFT) campaign of the Ilocos Norte government, the Marcos administration’s top
agenda is to create sustainable jobs in the province so that Ilocanos will no
longer leave their hometown to search for employment opportunities elsewhere in
Manila and abroad.
“We want more and better jobs
to provide adequately for our families, both in our cities and in the far flung
rural areas. Every Ilocano has the choice of working overseas or one day
working here at home,” the governor said.
Since 2012, Ms. Marcos has
been on the forefront of promoting the province as a prime destination for
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies and other investors, emphasizing
the quality and abundance of Ilocano talent, which makes Ilocos Norte great for
business.
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