Cebu outsourcing sector incurs P5 billion in losses

Cebu’s outsourcing industry already incurred an estimated P5 billion in losses five days after typhoon Odette wreaked havoc across the province.

“As of today [Tuesday, December 21, 2021], local conservative estimates of revenue losses are at a minimum of P5B already. We cannot afford this to continue. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the IT-BPM industry saved the national and local economies, but with the current situation in Cebu we cannot operate. Lots of other businesses within and outside the IT BPM ecosystem cannot operate without power and relevant utilities,” said Cebu IT/ BPM Organization (CIB.O) executive director Buddy

Villasis in a statement released yesterday.

The organization, which serves as the industry mouthpiece, is calling on the National Government to act immediately on Cebu’s chaotic situation.

“The local government units may be doing their best but they are also victims of the typhoon and they also have families to take care of. We at CIB.O is calling on the national government and relevant authorities to look at this situation with top priority. If we continue to have zero utilities and public services, chaos and looting, and other forms of public disorders will not be a remote possibility,” Villasis added.

If the situation were to continue in few more days or weeks, “CIB.O is looking at major losses on a greater economic scale, a major of revenue to industries.”

“We are calling on the National Government to step in right away to help restore soonest our primary requirements for survival. Please make this situation a "national emergency,” CIB.O stressed.

Better yet, if the LGUs find themselves helpless, the group is calling on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to deploy their Engineering Battalions with their men and machines to help expedite road clearing operations so that the power, utility and telco companies could get Cebu back online—soonest.

“Cebu needs to be revived fast so we could also help other places that need assistance,” Villasis noted.

Five days since Odette's wrath and Cebu is still in terrible shape. Roads are not totally cleared yet from debris. Wires, poles, G.I. sheets, trees, among other still litter the streets posing danger to motorists and pedestrians alike.

“It is totally disheartening to watch fellow Cebuanos lining up for water, charging stations, ATMs, and gas stations. People may have lots of cash, but they can't withdraw money or have to line up for hours to get cash at limited operational ATMs,” he said trying to describe the current situation of Cebu.

Furthermore, CIB.O is also calling on private establishments that are operating to open their doors by providing charging stations to the public.