CLARK FREEPORT -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited this Freeport’s strong infrastructure capabilities in telecommunications, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, saying “nothing beats Clark.”

“We are now number three. In other words, after Metro Manila and Metro Cebu comes Metro Pampanga. That is where the market has brought us and as far as infrastructure is concerned telecom infrastructures, infrastructure needed for a good ICT operation, BPO operation…’wala nang makakatalo sa Clark’,” said Arroyo in her speech during the 2nd National Information and Communication Technology (NICT) Summit 2009.

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The President was the guest of honor and speaker during the three-day event which ran from November5 to 7 at the Fontana Convention Center.

The summit, which was hosted by the Metro Clark ICT Council (MCICTC) chaired by George Sorio, senior executive vice president of Cyber City Teleservices Inc., was held in recognition of the important role of the ICT in advancing today’s growing business activities here and abroad.

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and Cyber City spearheaded the summit, which aims to realize Arroyo’s vision to make the Philippines globally competitive in the ICT industry.

CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort said the event is fully supported by the state-owned corporation as the Freeport is envisioned to be the center for the ICT industries and other related investment projects in the country.

According to the Chief Executive, Central Pampanga, which consists of Clark, Angeles City, and Mabalacat, has outscored other provinces in the country in terms of telecommunications and ICT infrastructure, thus further expanding the Philippine cyber corridor.

“Our cyber corridor started with Metro Manila up to Metro Cebu. And as part of this road map, you in the private sector together with the government expanded that cyber corridor from the two centers of excellence: Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and we are very happy Central Pampanga consisting of Clark, Angeles and Mabalacat,” Arroyo said.

“In fact, I congratulate Clark for your fast ICT growth, you have now 15,000 ICT workers,” she added.

Arroyo congratulated the private sector for collaborating with the government, making the country at par with other international off-shoring hubs as she cited the Philippine’s highly trainable English proficient IT enabled management and manpower.

“Indeed, the Philippines ranks as among the best off-shoring hubs in the world because of cost competitiveness…Our having won the off shoring Destination of the Year Award again also highlights the growing importance of the Philippine IT-BPO industry in the global market,” the President said in her speech.

The Chief Executive also said: “Today we are creating wealth by developing the labor-intensive, skills intensive service sector like BPO and tourism as the key growth sectors, just as I predicted during my first State of the Nation Address in 2001.”

The President also cited the government’s efforts in initiating the three areas that gave ICT a central role in the country’s Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan. They are telecommunications infrastructure for cost-efficient Internet phone calls, ensuring an appropriate policy and legal environment through the creation of public-private sector task force on ICT, and the development of human capital “to close the digital divide.”

“So today, where are we? Eight years later from when I said that ICT will be a growth sector of the future, from 4,000 BPO workers in 2001, now it’s like around 400,000 with good paying jobs that keep our young people at home rather than having to go abroad for a nice job. The BPO phenomenon speaks eloquently of our competitiveness and productivity,” the President said. (Press Release)