A business process outsourcing company head is appealing to the government to lift Martial Law, at least in Mindanao’s major key cities – Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City, as it had affected the firm’s expansion.
A year after the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 216, placing the whole Mindanao under the military rule, some 4,000 to 5,000 job BPO jobs have been lost.
This was the claim of David Leechiu, chief executive officer of the Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC). Leechiu said Martial Law had hindered the generation of jobs, especially in Davao City.
“I understand the part of the government, that there is a need to keep Martial Law in place because they feel that it is necessary,” however, “they also need to understand the cost of that policy had (adversely) affected the BPO industry.”
According to Leechiu, the BPO industry was able to generate 25,000 employees between 2012-2017. It could have added more if not for the declaration of martial law as a result of the Marawi siege by the notorious Maute terrorist group.
“It took us 10 years to bring the first BPO in Davao. We have brought 60 to 70 percent of BPOs in Davao,” Leechiu said.
Although he admitted that the BPO industry in Davao continues to grow despite Martial Law, however, the lifting of the declaration would be beneficial considering Davao City is one of the hot spots for the BPO industry.
ICT-Davao president Samuel Matunog in an earlier report had also sought the lifting of Martial Law in Mindanao.
He said that it is affecting Davao City’s reputation as a next premiere destination for new investors, including the BPOs.
Matunog also disclosed that foreign client companies have apprehensions about investing in the city, because they are doubtful with the island’s security measures, even months after Marawi City has already liberated.
Recently, global strategic firm Tholons Services Globalization Index conducted a “Top 100 Super Cities” listed Davao City ranked 75th from last year’s 85thspot.
