CEBU CITY'S ONE-STOP SHOP FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICES A BOON TO BPM INDUSTRY
Having to get several requirements just to get employed can be time-consuming and expensive when one has to go from one government agency to another. And with heavy traffic, some locations are just more convenient for others. This is why workers in the business process management (BPM) industry welcome the move of the Cebu City Government to install a one-stop shop of government services at the Ayala Center Cebu. In his Facebook post last Monday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Omeña announced that the City has entered into a partnership with Ayala Center to set up the center, specifically for pre-employment requirements of BPM workers.
Having to get several requirements just to get employed can be time-consuming and expensive, when one has to go from one government agency to another.
And with heavy traffic around the metropolis, some locations are just more convenient for others.
This is why workers in the business process management (BPM) industry welcome the move of the Cebu City Government to install a one-stop shop of government services at the Ayala Center Cebu.
In his Facebook post last Monday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Omeña announced that the City has entered into a partnership with Ayala Center to set up the center, specifically for pre-employment requirements of BPM workers.
“Many people working in the BPO industry have complained that because of their late hours, it is very difficult and time consuming for them to access some of the government services they need. So, the Cebu City Government, in partnership with Ayala and many of our national agencies, is opening a One-Stop Shop where one can access NSO (National Statistics Office), Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, SSS (Social Security System), and even get NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance and cedula (community tax certificate) all in one location. No need to be absent from work anymore,” Osmeña said.
The first location will be in Ayala Center Cebu and will be followed by a second location in Cebu IT Park.
Osmeña said that although the one-stop shop was conceptualized with the BPM workers in mind, it is open for all. The management of Ayala is also providing these locations for free.
“I think that this is a brilliant idea,” said Abegail Alcaraz, an employee in one of the biggest BPM locators in Cebu IT Park, saying that availing of government services is one of the top reasons people file for a leave in the BPM industry.
“It would be very convenient for us, as we do not have to spend so much money on transportation; we can do everything in one place. Also, this can be really good, as BPM employees won’t have to sacrifice their sleep,” she said.
BPM employee Leizel Cabayacruz also lauded the City’s initiative, saying this is a “huge step in the right direction.”
“We are grateful that the government is being attentive with our concerns; this would mean convenient time in processing legal and work documents, more time for your own family, or simply just quality time for personal time off without compromising on work,” she said.
Workers in the BPM industry are known to juggle their personal and work responsibilities because of its work dynamics. Employees in this industry work in schedules — graveyard, evening and morning shifts.
Companies typically ask for an NBI clearance, NSO-issued birth certificates and those of their dependents, marriage contract and documents from SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig, among others.
Cabayacruz said there are teams or departments that shift schedules weekly, making it difficult for workers to attend to their other responsibilities. She said it is also not that easy to file for leave of absence right away.
Crisanta David Dagooc, who is also working in a BPM firm, shared the same sentiment, saying longer queues and government working hours are some of the challenges they face.
But besides the physical presence in areas accessible to everyone, Dagooc, who is also a mother of three, wishes that some transactions can be done online.
Cebu IT BPM Organization (Cib.O) managing director Wilfredo Sa-a Jr. said the one-stop shop will make getting pre-employment requirements much easier.
“This will help expedite on boarding of new employees, thus, improving productivity in the industry,” said Sa-a, adding that this development could also be used as an additional marketing pitch for potential investors.
“This will make Cebu a more competitive city,” he said. Cib.O, formerly known as Cebu Educational Foundation for Information Technology (Cedf-IT), is a full-time industry association that envisions making Cebu the preferred IT-BPM location for higher value IT and IT-enabled services.
There are about 150,000 BPM employees in Cebu City. The industry is earning P7 billion per month. /