April 14, 2009, 7:23pm [ Manila Bulletin Online ]
Property developer The Extraordinary Group is diversifying its product portfolio as it sought registration with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as a new developer of an economic zone for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Victor H. Manarang, president of The Extraordinary Group, said new development called One Asia Business Center is a four-hectare property in Biñan, Laguna. It aims to cater to the needs of the BPO sector.
“We are just awaiting for the PEZA approval of this project although all the physical infrastructure development have been completed,” Manarang said. The first BPO center to be developed in Biñan, the project has already attracted BPO locators including a hospital with doctors clinics and BPO building developers. “But we might also put up a BPO building to speed the development of the business center,” Manarang said. The group’s decision to put up the BPO center in Biñan is largely to cater to the expanding BPO operations in the south. “The south is beginning to attract BPO locators because of the presence of educated residents,” Manarang said.
He noted that many residents of the south particularly Biñan, Sta. Rosa and San Pedro still go to Manila to study but with the expanding reach of the BPOs it would be more convenient now for them to be employed to a place closer to their homes. The PEZA registration would enable its locators to avail of incentives from the government including income tax holiday incentives, among others. The Extraordinary Group has concentrated on the development of mass housing projects under its various business units. They are into low cost, middle, and high-end developments.
The Business Center is the first venture of the group into the BPO sector and the first BPO-centered development in the south. It is also part of the 150-hectare Jubilation, a masterplanned township development community that was launched in 2002 with over P5 billion in investments in Biñan.
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