BIPC bares upcoming events to spark local job generation

STILL into triggering investments and opening job opportunities, the Bohol Investment and Promotion Center (BIPC) has two activities on the line: the upcoming Economic (formerly investment) forum and the information communications technology (ICT) congress to whip up dynamism in the local economy, says Ma. Fe Dominise recently. Dominese, who sits as BIPC head said they are looking forward to the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) as golden opportunity to expand Bohol 's dream of becoming an emerging investment haven in the Visayas.

The TBTK economic forum pools capital from successful Boholanos outside the country to finance government identified priority projects. The provincial government is reportedly putting up the Panglao Island Tourism Estate development for new investments at the forum for TBTK 2006. While preparing for the mechanisms for this year's economic forum, the PIPC is also setting up the framework for Bohol as the alternate ICT hub outside Manila .

BIPC with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have been focusing on the two concerns for the past months, making the center seemingly hibernating. That might explain why the center's efforts have not been visible lately. For this, she cited Governor Erico Aumentado spearheading efforts to tap the vast resources of Globe, Smart and BayanTel while convincing the giant communications companies to assure digital connectivity with the global investment arena.

The recent miracle industry in business process outsourcing (BPO) opened up the floodgates of opportunities for the thousands of jobless graduates praying for jobs opening where their skills can fit. BPO in the call center solves the drastic out-migration that starve the local economy of skills and effectively plugs the problem of brain drain, says Joseph Norris Oculam of BCCI. Skilled graduates can now get hired as call center agents and virtually sell their services to the global community without leaving home. Voice and non-voice services in call centers have become the country's miracle industry.

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