Solon backs creation of ICT department
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas expressed support to the creation of the Information and Communications Department.
Treñas, a member of the House committee on information and communications technology, cited the impact of the ICT sector, especially on the jobs generation in Iloilo City, which has some 4,000 in various business outsourcing firms such as call centers.
He said the creation of an ICT department would mean additional support system for the sector.
“This is very important because this is a sunshine industry,” he said, adding that two investors are already gearing for IT-related businesses in the city.
The Plazuela de Iloilo is now under construction while the Ayala Land Corp. recently held its groundbreaking for its proposed IT center in Iloilo City.
Iloilo City hosts several major call center companies, including Teletech, e-PLDT Ventus, Callbox, Echo Customer Contact Center, Global Mega Communications, Techno Call Corp., and Megabox Call Center.
It is also home to Medlink Transcription Services and BPO companies such as Eversun Philippine Corp., Savant Technologies Inc, Virtual Assistant Org., and RS2.*PNA
Cebu Pacific now flying to Brunei
Cebu Pacific started its Manila-Brunei-Manila service on August 21 with the maiden flight taking off Manila at 11:50 p.m. and arriving in Brunei at 1:40 a.m. the next day.
“We experienced almost 100 percent passenger load factor for our maiden Manila-Brunei and Brunei-Manila flights. This shows that the market for Cebu Pacific flights to and from Brunei can really be stimulated by (our) trademark low fares,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution.
Brunei Ambassador to the Philippines Malai Halimah Yussof and First Secretary Shahrul Anaz Hj Ismail from the Embassy of Brunei Darassalam sent off Cebu Pacific’s first passengers to Brunei.
Brunei is Cebu Pacific’s 15th international destination. The airline is set to operate Manila-Brunei flights every Tuesday and Saturday, and Brunei-Manila flights every Wednesday and Sunday.
The lowest year-round “Go Lite” fare for this route is P2,899.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has declared Hong Kong its strongest international destination, based on the number of passengers last year.
About 493,000 passengers flew to Hong Kong in 2009, higher than those in Cebu Pacific’s other international destinations such as Singapore, Osaka, Incheon, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta.
The airline currently operates four daily Hong Kong flights from Manila, and a daily service from both Cebu and Clark.*
