In 2004, Bacolod City embarked on an ambitious journey—to emerge as a prominent name in the global ICT and outsourcing industry. It all began with a vision, passionately driven by Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, then a neophyte councilor chairing the Committee on Communications and Energy in Bacolod’s Sanggunian Panlungsod.

Councilor Batapa-Sigue envisioned a comprehensive approach, proposing the formation of the Bacolod IT Focus Team and initiating the pioneering Bacolod Information Technology (IT) Investment Program. This visionary project quickly gained traction. In 2008, Bacolod City’s Bacolod Information Technology (IT) Investment Program was honored as the Best Public Sector Practice for Local Government Units by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas. This recognition highlighted the city’s innovative approach to fostering public-private partnerships, enhancing ICT infrastructure, and implementing strategic workforce development initiatives, positioning Bacolod as a leading ICT hub in the region. Bacolod received a prestigious Presidential Trophy for this IT program which was considered exceptional as a public sector practice despite 80 percent of the efforts coming from the private sector and academia. The local government effectively served as a catalyst, innovator, and enabler—uniting all stakeholders towards the common goal of generating thousands of jobs. Bacolod’s thorough documentation, including supportive ordinances, executive orders, budgets, and clearly defined roles across legislative and executive branches, underscored this unified effort. Remarkably, during the rigorous evaluation, Bacolod’s extensive presentation left the judging panel without further questions, demonstrating unmatched clarity and completeness. Negros Occidental’s PagKaon Scholarship was the runner-up, further highlighting the competitive strength of the region.

The Bacolod IT Focus Team’s formation marked a critical turning point, transforming ideas into action by fostering collaboration among government, academia, the business sector, and telecommunications firms. Their united front presented a dynamic, responsive, and innovative way of promoting Bacolod to the world.

Rapid progress ensued. The team successfully secured the designation of Bacolod as one of the Philippines’ leading “next wave cities” for outsourcing and off-shoring by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP). By 2008, Bacolod proudly supported approximately 5,000 outsourcing jobs, significantly boosting the local economy.

Furthering this growth, City Ordinance No. 440 established the ICT Council of Bacolod, institutionalizing these initiatives. Meanwhile, City Ordinance No. 402 paved the way for streamlined accreditation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), attracting real estate developers and investments that led to thirteen PEZA-accredited sites, six of which gained presidential proclamation.

Promotional efforts flourished with campaigns such as “Make IT Bacolod,” which highlighted the city’s strengths—robust infrastructure, skilled manpower, and strategic real estate offerings. Bacolod’s active participation in global ICT forums, such as the e-Services Philippines Global Outsourcing Conference and the Asian ICT Summit, solidified its international reputation.

One of the pivotal achievements was the creation of the IT Schools Network of Negros Occidental (ITSNET), initiating programs like the annual Bacolod IT Fair, and TESDA-accredited training courses in call centers and medical transcription. These initiatives significantly boosted workforce readiness.

In 2007, the scope widened with the establishment of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for ICT (BNEFIT), a collaborative body involving stakeholders across sectors. BNEFIT’s mission centered around fostering ICT readiness and competitiveness, complemented by strategic educational integration and robust human resource development.

BNEFIT’s establishment resulted from extensive collaboration during the inaugural ICT Conference, “Uniting for B-NEFIT.” This event galvanized stakeholders from various cities and towns, local businesses, academic institutions, and industry leaders to commit to a common vision.

By targeting to achieve 10,000 outsourcing and offshoring jobs by 2010, stakeholders focused on diversifying the ICT sector beyond call centers into software development, legal and medical transcription, IT engineering, animation, and other advanced ICT domains. Strategies included intensive training programs, language skills enhancement, faculty and trainer immersion programs, summer camps, and targeted scholarship initiatives, significantly enriching workforce capabilities.

Bacolod’s persistent efforts culminated in being recognized as a Center of Excellence (COE) for ICT by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in 2013, further cementing its stature in the national ICT landscape. Additionally, Bacolod’s prominence extended internationally, landing it on the prestigious Tholons Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations list, showcasing its global competitiveness and attractiveness to outsourcing investors and enterprises.

This collective momentum positioned Bacolod and Negros Occidental prominently within the Philippine Cyber Corridor. BNEFIT became a founding member of the Philippine Federation of ICT Organizations, further elevating its national role.

Reflecting on this journey, innovation and leadership remain pivotal. The stakeholders recognized the necessity to continually evolve, innovate, and inspire, understanding that true leadership involves pioneering meaningful change.

Today, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental stand as testaments to how visionary leadership, collaborative efforts, strategic planning, and committed execution can transform potential into reality—setting benchmarks not just for the region, but for the entire nation.