Zamboanga City, Philippines – On November 28, the Zamboanga Economic Zone welcomed industry leaders as part of the Regional ICT Summit and Exhibitions (RISE) project, organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The focus of RISE 9 was on driving information technology – business process management (IT-BPM) and other digital jobs to the region, emphasizing the potential of Zamboanga City as a hub for such industries through collaboration between public and private sectors.

The one-day summit consisting of informative plenary and roundtable discussions, exhibitions and industry tour, was spearheaded by Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, along with notable ICT figures namely, Haidee Enriquez, Chair of the Talent Attraction and Development Committee of the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, Managing Director of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), and Marc Oliver Calumba, Country Manager of InteLogix, Philippines. The delegation also included David Padgett of SeeMeCV Pte Ltd PH, Jehan Forro, President of Zamboanga City ICT Council, and Michael Tiu-Lim, former president of both the Zamboanga ICT Council and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).

The group was warmly received by Raul Regondola, Chairman and Administrator of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (ZAMBOECOZONE). One of the highlights of the event was the showcase of the West Corporate Centre, a key project of ZAMBOECOZONE designed to become the central business district for banks, financial, industrial headquarters, and BPO operations in Zamboanga City’s west coast.

Regondola said ZAMBOECOZONE’s commitment to growth is evident in its ongoing construction of two buildings worth P221 million, adding about 8,000 square meters of leasable space for IT-BPM companies. With these developments, the zone offers a spacious, secure, and fully equipped facility, making it an ideal location for businesses looking to expand in the region.

Batapa-Sigue said the RISE 9 summit represents a significant step towards realizing Zamboanga City’s potential as a key player in the IT-BPM sector. With its favorable business climate and attractive incentives, Region 9 is poised to experience rapid growth in investments and development, further solidifying its role in the Philippines’ economic landscape.

The West Corporate Centre features four 4-storey commercial low-rise buildings, adhering to BPO standards and specifications, offering mixed-use office space for corporations, banks, and other investors. The ZamboEcoZone, also known as Zamboanga Freeport Authority (ZFA), was established under the Republic Acts of the Philippines 7903 in 1995. Authored by then-Congresswoman María Clara Lobregat, it is situated about 23 kilometers from the city proper and is one of the three Economic Freeport Zones outside Luzon.

The zone currently has two BPO-designed buildings ready for operation, with two more scheduled to be completed by 2021. This development is part of a larger plan to provide 8,000 square meters of leasable space for IT-BPM companies, including national government tax incentives.

The ZAMBOECOZONE, with its strategic location, compliance with BPO standards, and comprehensive amenities, positions itself as an ideal destination for businesses looking to establish or expand in the region. Its rapid growth in investments is attributed to the favorable business climate and incentives offered, marking a new era of economic development in Zamboanga City.