Construction of the first building within the Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub which is projected to eventually generate 3,000 information technology-related jobs has started and is set for completion early next year, said an official of the Tagbilaran Uptown Realty Corp.
Al Uy, president of project developer Tagbilaran Uptown Realty, told the Chronicle that the structure is being built on a sprawling 1.3-hectare area right across the Island City Mall and the Central Public Market in Tagbilaran City.
“Ongoing na ang construction, mahuman mi sa excavation within the month unya amo pa ng ipa-scan ang iyang area unya mag sugod na gyud ang civil works…hopefully karong April siguro,” said Uy.
Construction of the building is projected to be completed 10 to 12 months after civil works start, he added.
According to Uy, the single structure will house business process management firms, particularly call centers, and support service establishments such as coffee shops, restaurants and banks at the lower level.
Tagbilaran Uptown Realty tapped Pampanga-based Segnor Construction and Development Corporation as the project’s contractor.
Beyond the park’s first building, Uy said that the entire 1.3- hectare IT hub can accommodate up to 1,000 seats or employee spaces for business process outsourcing (BPO) companies which have three work shifts a day.
“Kung naa gyuy mga locators na mo sud, unya kuhaon gyud ni tanan 1,000 seats, then ibutang nato tulo ka shifts kay tag 8 hours mana, so mga 3,000,” Uy said.
The Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub is also projected to indirectly generate more jobs beyond the establishment’s periphery, as with other IT parks across the country.
“Ang multiplier effect sa BPO kay times four man kuno kay every call center agent ky mo generate man na og additional job, kanang mga habal-habal driver ug mga mamaligya og pagkaon,” Uy added.
Meanwhile, Tagbilaran Uptown Realty started to coordinate with local telecommunication giants PLDT and Globe Telecom.
Both have agreed to provide the IT park with fast internet connections through fiber optics.
“Mao man gyud ny requirement ky di man pwede usa ra ka linya, hilanglan gyud duha kay naa man gyuy backup,” said Uy.
He admitted that the land development venture involving the IT-BPM industry is risky but noted that the project is necessary to push Bohol in keeping pace with other provinces in terms of development.
Uy noted that they are already in talks with possible tenants including Manila-based BPO firms which have expressed interest in expanding to Tagbilaran City.
“Risgo gud pud na, kintahay way investor na mo sud ana na building pero kung di pud ta mo put up ana, maawahi man pud ang Tagbilaran or Bohol,” said Uy. “So dako gyud kaayo ang implication, ma-utro ang landscape sa Tagbilaran in terms sa manarbahuay kay daghan na maka-trabaho.” (Allen Doydora)