MANILA, Philippines -- A group representing stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Albay is moving quickly to attract business process outsourcing (BPO) firms to the province, its president told INQUIRER.net.

Rosemarie Rey, president of the Albay ICT Association (AICTA), said the group is aiming to grow its membership this year, as they anticipate the influx of investments from the BPO industry to Legazpi City.

Rey who represented the AICTA, witnessed the signing of a deal between Embarcadero Land Ventures Inc. and five telecommunications companies as part of a plan to create an IT park in the city. Among the telecommunications companies that have agreed to provide services to the IT park are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Bayantel, Digitel, Globe and PT&T, the group said in a statement.
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"We helped in the realization of this project because this will lead to more jobs," said Rey who is also president and CEO of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation, an IT school located in Legaspi City.

Legazpi City is the educational center for the Bicol region, she said.

While the IT park is mainly a private venture, Rey said the group is supporting this project because of BPO opportunities. Her school has been doing outsourcing services for some United States-based companies. The school has served as an "incubation" center for a supply of trained agents for a small operation of more than 20 seats.

IT schools like Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation have been operating facilities for outsourced services, she added.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal said in a statement that the city is ready to provide manpower for the planned IT park.

Zaldy Co, president and CEO of Embarcadero de Legazpi, for his part, added in a statement that the IT park intends to attract talents and skills from the Bicol Region.

The planned IT park is a 15,477 square-meter area located in Legazpi City. It can house about 8,000 seats in three buildings, she said.