Many BPOs are looking at the provinces at this time that these companies are aiming for expansion. Real properties here are also being readied as most of these companies want to come and start the business thus their required of "plug and play".  Big malls had allocated spaces for these investors and in fact these two US-run BPOs already picked an area that would satisfy their requirements.  These are some of the new developments here even as many are excited of their coming as it would mean job opportunities, economic growth and vibrant business climate. Here's a story of Davao City opening doors to new investors ...

Two US-run BPOs locating in Davao City‏

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 14 (PNA) -- Two U.S.-run Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) companies are locating in Davao City, according to an Ayala Land executive.

Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land head of Operations and Support Services Commercial Business Group, confirmed that the two BPOs are locating at Abreeza Mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, this city.

But Tomeldan did not give details and the identities of the companies but said the investors are locating either end of 2012 or first quarter of 2013.

Abreeza Mall has available BPO office space of 9,000 square meters, she said.

Tomeldan said the nature of their development is mix use that is why Abreeza goes with a Mall, BPO, a condominium, a hotel and a lot more.

She said Ayala Land's objective of locating here is to "bring the best in Davao and give the best to Dabawenyos".

"We are misinterpreted as high-end market," she said but clarified that they offer a good mix of affordable and premium products to consumers.

Tomeldan said they use research and study to achieve their goal and know their market even as they provide opportunities to Manila-based investors and make available the property to local home-grown entrepreneurs as well.

"And we want them to grow with us," she said.

She said these home-grown traders could be anchors for tourists or foreign shoppers in promoting the products of Davao and the crafts, culture and tradition of the locals.

Alongside with the BPO, she announced the opening of their 180-room hotel, the Kukon, on the first quarter of 2013.

She said they want Abreeza to be a landmark in Davao and the second home to Dabawenyos.

Meanwhile, she said their Centrio in Cagayan de Oro City will open in October, another project in partnership with Anflocor.

Tomeldan said the Mindanao market continues to grow and there is always room for growth and possible expansion in the future.

To date, she said Ayala Land has a total of 22 new development projects across the country. (PNA) LAM/DDB/ldp/utb

This article I write focuses on the involvement of indigenous peoples on coffee production. It's interesting to know their participation and the industry sector's interests and plans of propagating the production of coffee. I am a coffee addict and drinks coffee be it brewed, latte, cappuccino ... it's a happy feeling when sipping a hot cup while writing.  Take a look at this article about Davao's coffee farm expansion project under private and public partnership. 

Davao Lumads to benefit from DA’s coffee farm expansion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Davao’s target of some 1,200-hectare expansion of coffee farms will benefit mostly indigenous peoples (IPs) or Lumads in the region to be planted for both the Robusta and Arabica varieties.

Melanie Provido, head of DA Davao high value crops development program, said DA has a three-year program for Robusta coffee variety where the expansion program covers about 700 hectares.

On the other hand, Provido said the Arabica variety will be propagated to some 500 hectares in Davao City by Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Company. The identified areas are in barangays Carmen, Calinan, Cebulan, Toril and in Salaysay, Tamayong and Marilog.

She said these are convergence areas of DA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the provincial government headed by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the local government units (LGUs).

The area, she said is also in support to the program of the provincial LGUs to develop areas of indigenous people's (IPs) as well as support them (IPs) on their livelihood. Todate, about 500 hectares are now planted into this variety in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.

Provido said included in the three-year program is also the setting up of common service area (CSA) where it provides post harvest facilities like dryer, coffee roaster and dehaulers which can serve areas of about 10 hectares. The CSA is facilitated through people's organization or farmers' association so that each farmer can have access the facilities.

The Robusta program is also in collaboration with Nestle Philippines as the company aside from marketing support where they put up a buying station in Tagum City also provides training to farmers on new technologies and other related concerns.

Provido said of the 100 percent requirement of the company, it only gets 27 to 30 percent from here and the 70 percent is imported from countries including Vietnam.

She said the company realized that instead of supporting farmers abroad as they buy their beans from them, they have partnered with DA and LGU for the propagation and developing of more coffee farms in the region.

Buying price of Robusta coffee is at P90 to P120 per kilo of the Class A type.

However, Provido said the reason coffee farms here cannot meet the demand is because of low production yield where on the average a hectare is supposed to yield at one ton, farmers' produce per hectare is only pegged at 600 kilos per hectare per year.

She said 70 percent of the coffee trees need rejuvenation as majority of these are about 35 to 40 years old. Poor production management and adaptation of new technologies are reasons that contribute to low production.

Meanwhile, the Arabica project is now being finalized with Rocky Mountain as they intend to develop some 100 hectares of coffee farms.

The DA, she said will match the coverage of the company by also targeting also the number of hectares that Rocky Mountain will develop.

Provido said Rocky Mountain will put in investments as well as processing facilities even as she said aside from providing the market with supply of raw materials, they also have plans of exporting the beans.

She said the company specified that it wants to invest in areas covered by IPs as they also would want to support the livelihood of farmers. (PNA)

LAP/Digna D. Banzon/ldp