MANILA, Philippines -- APAC Customer Services (APAC) is looking at building its next call center outside of Metro Manila starting this year.

The Illinois-based outsourcer currently employs around 4,000 workers in three sites in Metro Manila -- two in Alabang and its biggest facility located at the Araneta Center in Cubao.

James Griffin, vice-president for international operations and country manager for the Philippines, said the company would like to expand to second-tier cities.

APAC is looking at adding two more sites in the Philippines this year. The company is eyeing Sta. Rosa, Laguna as an expansion site and is likewise looking at opening a facility at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

?We would be coming out with a decision by the end of this quarter. We?ve already conducted due diligence in these sites,? Griffin said in an interview.

Meanwhile, he said he is likewise looking at other cities, mentioning Baguio and Cebu but added: ?This isn?t really new since some of these cities already have maybe three or four players looking to invest.?

?Our strategy is to add 1,000 to 2,000 seats in our operations in the Philippines,? Griffin added.

APAC operates five other sites in the US and employs a total of 9,000 workers including those in the Philippines. In the long-run, Griffin expects offshore business to become bigger in terms of employee size.

The company said it has invested $14 million in its 10,000-square-meter facility in Cubao, which houses some 2,000 agents. APAC?s customer base comes from the healthcare, telecom and publishing industries.