LOPEZ HEAPS PRAISES ON VXI, BPO INDUSTRY

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez discussed the importance of the business process outsourcing (BPO) and information technology- business process management (IT-BPM) in the country’s current economic and social conditions, putting emphasis on the impact of the industry’s per capita income on the economy, as well as the role of the industry in influencing the shift towards the growth of viable, sustainable entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the inauguration of VXI Panorama on July 26, 2017, at the Panorama TechnoCenter Building along EDSA in Quezon City, Lopez acknowledged VXI Philippines’ contribution to the continued growth of the BPO and IT-BPM industry, as well as the importance of the role of the industry today. VXI Philippines is the winner of the Best Contact Center and BPO Company of the Year award and one of the finalists in Best Company of the Year and Best Employer of the Year categories at the 11th International ICT Awards.

“Your company (VXI PH) is doing really something different, and I would also like to extend that to the (BPO) industry,” Lopez said, describing the industry as “always making a big change” and “a game changer.”

“Looking through the numbers, the IT-BPM, in such a short period of time…has surpassed the revenue, remittances of OFWs, and you are only 1.2 M in the industry. The OFWs are 12 million. What I can say also about this industry is that this industry has a very high per capita revenue. At the end of the day, it is the industry that’s providing a lot of jobs because it is manpower-oriented and manpower based private industry. That is why I believe that it won’t die. It is an industry where our country has a comparative advantage.”

With Lopez during the inauguration of VXI Philippines’ biggest site nationwide are other guests of honor, including Congressman Vincent Crisologo, and councilors Anthony Peter Crisologo, Ivy Xenia Lagman, and Elizabeth Delarmente.

Several top-level company executives were also present, including Philippine Country Manager and Executive Vice President Jared Morrison, Eppie Titong (VP for Operations), Jovencito Llanes (VP for Human Resources), Debbie Santos (VP for Talent Acquisition), Prateek Hastir (VP for Global Sales and Marketing) and Deanna Giner (VP for Global Shared Services).

Morrison pointed out during his welcome address that VXI Panorama represents the “continued extreme level of confidence” the company is experiencing in the recent years. Morrison also reiterated the company’s commitment to “continue to heavily invest in our employees.”

The inauguration of VXI Panorama mirrors the intention of VXI Philippines to expand not just in Metro Manila but nationwide, highlighted by putting up a site in Clark and opening its third site in Davao. “We’ve opened a third site in Davao. We’re heavily invested in Davao. We love our experience in Davao. And even today it is business as usual, and a team of 5,000 employees continues to do great work. We do have a short list of other provincial locations which I am not ready to discuss today,” Morrison added. “I don’t want to tip off our competitors,” Morrison said jokingly.

For Lopez, VXI’s efforts are strongly aligned with “changing people’s lives and giving hope to our countrymen.” Lopez also expressed admiration on how VXI hires people. “I like the way you hire people. You hire based on attitude. I believe in that,” Lopez said.

Role in developing entrepreneurship

Lopez discussed the important role of the BPO industry seldom recognized or acknowledge when it comes to identifying the impact of this industry in the country. Job opportunities and financial stability often are the two benefits recognized by current and prospective employees and industry observers, but according to Lopez, just as important is the role of the BPO industry in fueling entrepreneurship that transforms people from being an employee to being an entrepreneur.

“When we talk about Dutertenomics, it’s really wanting to change people’s lives, changing especially those at the bottom of the pyramid, giving them jobs – trabaho at negosyo (jobs and business). I understand also in this industry you can be a negosyo provider. You can sub-contract, outsource further,” said Lopez, noting that this is “another business model” that caters “to creating jobs and also creating more business opportunities especially to the micro and small business people.”

Lopez added that “entrepreneurship revolution should always begin with a mindset change and it’s all about having the right attitude, and I must thank your industry (BPO) for helping us in that advocacy of really empowering a lot of our kababayans, a lot of Filipinos, to do better, to think better of themselves and to do really something good for the company and something good for the country.”

“We are creating a country of smarter people and smarter entrepreneurs.”

Show of support

Lopez assured everyone in the audience that DTI will continue to remain supportive. “This industry is listed in our top industries that we will be promoting because this is where the Philippines will be known for.” Lopez believes that this is the industry where the Philippines “will be on the top of the game.”

“We are one with you. We’ll be supporting this industry. This will be part of… investment priority plan.”