PORAC, PAMPANGA, Philippines?There was no stopping President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in pitching for the value of technology to help the country beat major players in the business process outsourcing industry.

On Saturday, Ms Arroyo was back in her home province of Pampanga bearing 500 used computers donated by Korean firms.

The computers, she said, were intended for students in seven Pampanga towns. These, she said, are important for students who wish to land a job in the BPO industry.

It was Ms Arroyo?s third visit to the province in a week, after she toured the Information Technology Training Center at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) on Feb. 1 and turned over charcoal-making machines to beneficiaries in Lubao town on Jan. 30.

Going gaga over BPO

In her AUF visit, Ms Arroyo talked about the booming BPO industry. She has since visited BPO sites and facilities in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

?The reason [we give out computers and Internet connection to public schools] is because we want our young generation to be ready for the information age of the 21st century, especially here in Pampanga,? Ms Arroyo said in a speech at the Porac Model Community High School here.

?We are part of the cyber corridor where the jobs for IT (information technology) and BPO are abundant. That is why it is very important for our students to have this chance for good employment in these high-paying industries, to be good in English and to be good in the Internet,? she said.

This week, Ms Arroyo toured the country to promote her administration?s cyber corridor super region.

Donated computers

The computer desktops that Ms Arroyo distributed here were donated by Korean firms Hyundai Securities Bond Co. (HSBC) and Philuncast Development Co. (PUDC). These firms are behind the development of Villa Aveche, a housing project for Korean and Filipino retirees in Barangay Manibaug here.

All six towns in Pampanga?s second congressional district, where Ms Arroyo is seeking a congressional seat, and a town from the third district received the computers.

Yoon Il-hyun, PUDC chief executive officer, said the firm?s donation was a way of thanking the community that hosts its investments.

?We chose the second district as recipients of our donations because we wanted to share some of our investments to the community. The 500 computers will be good for the students? education. I would like to donate more computers soon,? Yoon said.

Nth Pampanga visit

Ms Arroyo had gone to Pampanga at least 50 times before and after she filed her certificate of candidacy to run for a House seat in the second district of the province, a post that her eldest son, Juan Miguel or Mikey, held but was giving up for his mom.

The President made history as the first sitting President to run for a lower position and not step down.

The President had been criticized for using her position to gain advantage in the elections. Critics said during her visits, it was difficult to distinguish whether she was on the trip as candidate or as President of the republic.