As the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry grows in the Philippines, an Australian-based service outsourcing firm aims to expand its job opportunities in the country.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reported earlier this year that nearly 800 BPO companies were registered in the country as of 2022. Of this number, around 1.57 million Filipinos were employed in that same year.
For Australian-led Acquire BPO, the company believes that “there’s always growth happening” within service outsourcing.
The PEZA-registered Acquire operates eight modern delivery centers within parts of Metro Manila as its last expansion. The company also shares a significant portion of employees within the area.
Dana Andel, the country manager, shared that there are already outsource bid offerings being made as part of the company’s expansion plans in the country.
“We are talking to some companies– the United States and Australia… Several BPOs are bidding on it, and they’re doing tours and visits [and] making decisions based on what they see [in the Philippines],” he said.
This trade and investment relationship has injected around 250 companies into the Philippines and 44,000 Filipinos employed.
Last year, the two-way trade amounted to P378 billion, while their two-way investment weighted at around P321 billion.
In a related news, Austal Philippines, a subsidiary of Austal Ltd., is set to design and build a custom vessel for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to enhance patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
During the Australian Business Briefing with the media, Wayne Murray, Austal PH’s president and general manager shared that the company is laying out plans to make the vessel developments a more suitable one for the Philippines.
Although a formal deal between PCG and Austal Philippines has not yet been finalized, the firm hopes to progress the vessel plans within the next six months.
“No firm contracts at the moment, but we’re working with a technical team to establish a vessel suitable for the requirements,” Murray said.
Part of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) includes funding to purchase three offshore patrol ships for PCG to defend the West Philippine Sea from maritime tensions.
“Australians are more on water protection… While that’s a requirement, this [ship development] is custom-made for the Philippines,” he added.