TACLOBAN CITY – TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Leyte is optimistic that it can invite top American call centers in the country to put up business at the newly-completed Leyte Academic Center.

Governor Jericho Petilla told Leyte Samar Daily Express that Leyte along with the other provinces outside Eastern Visayas would compete in inviting early this year six American call centers.

“I’m confident that we can give (competitors) a good fight and get companies to locate at the Leyte Academic Center,” Petilla said.

He said that he had prepared a draft that he would personally present during the meeting. It shows the advantages of putting up an ICT business in the province, he added.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) would initiate a meeting in Manila between American call center chief executives and local government officials in five provinces.

DTI Eastern Visayas regional director Cynthia Nierras told LSDE that the meeting is scheduled on January 24, 2005 at the DTI’s Board of Investments office.

“This is a part of the DTI selling mission, which is to facilitate a meeting between call center executives and provinces that are ready in ICT business,” Nierras explained.

Provinces participating in the meeting are Leyte, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.

Early November of last year, the Philippine Export Zone Authority board has approved the establishment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park at the Leyte Academic Center in nearby Palo town.

The project is expected to transform the 4.9-hectare area located at the Government Center into an ICT Park equipped with Business Process Outsourcing and call centers.

Immediately after the approval, the provincial government here has created a marketing team tasked to promote Leyte as hub for ICT business.

DTI officials said that the Philippines have some advantages as location of call center business. Some of the points cited are cultural affinity with US, relatively cheap labor, presence of modern telecommunication infrastructure, and Filipino speak Americanized English.

Services offered by call centers include handling call-inquires and technical support, electronic mail, online chat, travel and consumer services, medical and legal transcriptions, among others.