Bank bets on Cebu’s BPO sector

CHINA Banking Corp. is betting big on Cebu, especially on the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
The bank has offered office spaces for lease to BPO companies at the 18-story China Bank Corporate Center at the Cebu Business Park. The office spaces are on the 9th to 17th floors.
“We placed a very big bet in Cebu,” senior vice president Alexander Escucha said.
Ricardo Chua, bank president and chief executive officer, said a tenant is a start-up. Another is the local unit of a US-based BPO company. The Korean consulate will also establish offices in the building.
“We can maybe accommodate around 20 more,” said Chua. Over 5000 square meters of the total office area of 5,933.90sqm is still available for leasing.
Baldwin Aguilar, assistant vice president, said they hope to fill all spaces before year end.
The bank also plans to open four more branches in Cebu, three of which will be finished within the year. China Bank has a total number of 483 branches nationwide, including 24 in Cebu.