Davao Callcenters Review: Cyber City Teleservices Davao

G-Com/CyberCity Teleservices Limited is the first contact center in Davao City and in Mindanao as a whole.

 Here are some tidbits about this callcenter:

- It was launched here in Davao City on September 17, 2004.
- It was launched as G-Com but recently changed and adopted its mother company’s name.
_ It’s an American company with major offices in New Jersey and California, USA.

Neo Davao’s Take:

Well, it’s a good company considering that it is one of the biggest international callcenters in the Philippines today in terms of its workforce. However, Im just confused why they prefer female applicants more. Why? In my 4 years stay in the call center / bpo industry, this is the only international contact center that I’ve encountered with that prefers female agents more than having male agents. Hmmmm…that’s strange!

When it comes to its work environment, the call center is located in a decent Chinatown district of Davao City. It is few walks away from commercial establishments and a mall (Chimes Mall). It is pretty safe and convenient especially for those who would be assigned on a graveyard shift.

Actual Photo of Cybercity’s callcenter facility in Davao City

To those who wish to join this company, you may visit them at:

Door No. 3 ANC Building. Lapulapu corner Sobrecarey St. Davao.
Call : 221-4266 loc 18819 for more details

Where will Robinsons Mall Davao be located?

Davao City is indeed in bloom. Few weeks ago, Ayala Land Inc and Anflocor announced its project in Davao; Ayala Center of Davao (an ayala mall), a business park, and two IT/BPO buildings.

 

Next month, Filinvest will start the construction of One Oasis Davao – a condominium complex which will have seven midrise condo buildings (4 residential condos and 3 condotels).

 

And this month? well, we will witness the rise of another mall in Davao, Robinsons Mall which will not be a shopping destination alone but would also house BPO/IT Operations…..

So it’s all clear now…a new and separate condo project in Davao City

With the last post, I was talking about this news article from Business World about Filinvest’s plan to construct another condo project in Davao City. But it was confusing..Im not sure if the news was referring to the second condo in One Oasis Davao which would be constructed within the year or a different project itself. One Oasis Davao, when completed, will have 7 buildings (4 condo buildings and 3 condotels).

Anyway, I just got this latest information that it would be indeed a different condo project. The next Filinvest condo complex will be located in a three hectare property in Maa.

Quite confusing…you’ll be the judge – A second condo project of Filinvest in Davao City.

Here’s a confusing news article from Business World. As the report goes, a second condominium project by Filinvest Land will be constructed in Davao City.

Why do I find it confusing? coz the report said that it would follow the condo project of Filinvest in Ortigas here in Metro Manila. The only condo project of Filinvest Land in Ortigas area is One Oasis Ortigas. It has the same concept with the on going project of Filinvest Land in Davao – the One Oasis Davao.

One Oasis Davao is an on going project which when completed, would consist of seven midrise condominiums. The first condominium building is completely sold out….The second condominium building is now on a preselling stage…Could the author be referring just to the second condominium project within One Oasis Davao? Or is it a separate, different, and a new condominium project of Filinvest in the city aside from the ongoing condo project which is One Oasis Davao? Hmmmm…

Here’s the full report from Business World:

Business World Article – Thursday, April 24, 2008

---

Vol. XXI, No. 187
Corporate News

 Filinvest eyes second Davao condo project, to copy Ortigas condo venture in M. Manila

Gotianun-led Filinvest Land, Inc. is investing up to P2 billion in a second condominium project in Davao City, as it expects no letup in demand.

The company is also looking at replicating its One Oasis project within Metro Manila in a bid to boost its entry in the mid-rise building market and expand its geographical reach.

The property firm expects a good response from the market despite the weaker purchasing power of families who receive dollar remittances from relatives working abroad, Davao City branch manager Allan J. Barquilla said.

The project, a three-hectare condominium complex, will be the company’s second in the city after the 2.3-hectare One Oasis near SM City Davao.

Filinvest Land Manager Geraldine C. de Gorostiza said details of the new project would be announced soon. Construction is expected to start towards the end of the year.

Filinvest’s One Oasis project, first to rise on a four-hectare lot along Ortigas Avenue Extension in Pasig City, is composed of 11 five-storey residential buildings and two business process out-sourcing buildings.

The company started construction of One Oasis Ortigas last year, but it did not disclose the development cost.

Meanwhile, One Oasis Davao is made up of seven medium-rise buildings, to be developed over three to four years. Construction of the first two buildings will start next month.

In a briefing in Davao, Ms. de Gorostiza said the second condominium would likely attract buyers, judging by previous sales.

She said the company’s first condominium project here was sold out in six months after its introduction.

As a result, Filinvest Land is intensifying its property ventures in the city where it has five ongoing projects.

Aside from the second condominium project, the company is looking at other properties within and outside the city for development.

Ms. de Gorostiza said they might enter General Santos City where they have bought a 120-hectare property.

She said most of the buyers of upscale properties in the city are from other areas, particularly Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Mr. Barquilla said almost three-fourths of the inquiries the company had received about its first condominium project were from people living outside Davao City.

Ms. de Gorostiza said people want to live in the center where they work. Outsiders who want to buy properties either have business deals or children who study in Davao.

“It would be better to develop a project that will cater to these people,” she said.

In Manila, FLI Chief Finance Officer Nelson M. Bona said the company would be offering the One Oasis project in two new areas in the Metro, but declined to be specific.

Mr. Bona noted that with the completion of the first two residential projects in One Oasis Ortigas, they were likely to raise P500 million in revenues.

“But we’re not departing from our business model which is basically [catering to the] middle-income [class]. We’re still focused on the affordable and middle-income market because that’s the more sustainable market,” he added.

One Oasis Ortigas units are soled as studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom types that cost P1.3-P2.5 million. Filinvest Land said the centerpiece of the project will include a clubhouse, pool, basketball court, children’s playground and meditation garden.

Filinvest Land, one of the real estate arms of holding firm Filinvest Development Corp., has allocated P6 billion for the development of 36 new projects and expansion of existing ones this year.

In a separate interview, Filinvest Land Investor Relations Officer Annabelle Arceo said projects to be expanded include The Aborage at Brentville, Highlands Point in Filinvest East County, Alta Vida and Sunrise Place. — CQF and LNPL

15-storey Mixed use Condominium Project

The last time that I visited Davao City was last year during the Kadayawan Festival. I noticed this rendering displayed on a Santos Building across Davao Doctors Hospital Tower. The original plan was to convert the old building into another shopping mall. It has almost been one year and to date, the rendering is still in there. No sign of any construction at all.

^^Here’s a photo of the rendering taken recently by one of my friends based in Davao City.

I contacted the developer and here’s the update that I got. The old plan has been changed. Now, Red Wood Square would be converted into a 15 storeys mixed use development. It would be consisted of  3 levels with retail and commercial spaces and 12 levels residential condominium units. Hmmm pretty neat for that avenue ei?

Rendering of the Ayala Center of Davao/Ayala Business Park

 

To date, we do not have an official name yet of the minicity which Ayala Land and Anflocor would develop in Davao City. But as far as I know, the mall would be named as Ayala Center (of) Davao. Here’s the unofficial rendering of the Ayala Mall in Davao City. Unofficial (since it has not been released to the public yet) but official rendering! Thnx to nicky from ssc for the rendering.

As per previous press releases, Ayala Land and Anflocor will develop a business park which is similar to those in Metro Cebu and Metro Manila. The Davao project will be consist of a retail development (mall) which would be patterned after Bonifacio Highstreet and Serendra in Global City (two of the poshest malls in Metro Manila) and a BPO or an IT Building which would house call centers and other BPO firms.

 

 

World’s biggest data collection company sets up shop in Davao

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (3 April) — Western Wats, the biggest data collection company in the world will start operation by mid July 2008 in Davao City.

The company last year had negotiations for locating in Cagayan de Oro City decided opted to settle in Davao City instead because Davao can supply double the manpower requirements they need said Western Wats Philippines president Jose Antonio San Gabriel in an interview after the Contact Signing held yesterday between their company and NCCC Mall Davao.

“We’d rather be where the source is,” he said. Western Wats is considered as the preferred company for market research by the top 500 corporations of the world as named by Fortune magazine.

But he feared that the academe may not be able to supply the need of the industry in the next three years as many BPO (business process outsourcing) companies are looking at the Philippines to expand their operations.

He said many companies operating in India are locating in the Philippines and they fear of a demand and supply situation for manpower in the future.

Gabriel said they are willing to partner with the academe and conduct strategic planning in order for these universities come up with the right module that would produce graduates with skills that fit into the need of the ICT industry.

He clarified however that it is not the schools that has a problem but the individual himself and this has to be addressed.

He said Filipinos really are already known for its good command of English and the moment the worker is trained on the right accent nobody would notice whether they are talking with a call center agent from the Philippines or in America.

With a kick off investment of P70 million Derek Rice, operations director of Western Wats said they already are finishing the infrastructure requirements and will start recruitment by May. They need for 2008 about 500 agents, he said.

Rice said their company provides survey research data collection and specializes in quantitative research data collection via live telephone interview, automated telephony and the web.

The Western Wats based in Utah, USA will have Davao as its second branch in the Philippines next to Cebu that was opened six years ago.

The Western Wats’ 300 clients ranges from government agencies, auto manufacturing firms, advertising outfits, media organizations, print publications and universities, to mid-sized grocers, small private businesses, non-profit groups.

Gabriel meanwhile said that they are open to expansion of which they had an initial five-year contract with NCCC Mall and an extension for six years.

On the other hand Gabriel emphasized that the hiring rate of the agents would be higher than the P8,000 rate that other call center operators are giving to their workers. And passing their standard qualifications they could train these workers become call center agents within three days.

Gabriel also said that their clients are allowed to monitor the survey and even listen to the conduct of the survey by the call center agents.

“Presumably all our clients mostly in the US are satisfied with the way call center agents deliver the work. They also noted that the Filipinos are more patient,” he said.

Western Wats is now in Davao City

The largest independently owned market research data collection company in the US, WESTERN WATS, which conducts market research for many prominent businesses worldwide is now in DAVAO CITY!!! It was once noted that a particular city in Minanao was also bannering the entry of Western Wats to their locality but to no avail. Today, Western Wat’s newest and probably the largest investment in this side of the archipelago would be in Davao City particularly in NCCC Mall of Davao. The top most level of NCCC Mall of Davao will be converted into an IT Center which would soon house this BPO giant. So what is it for average Dabawenyos? This means one thing…..more jobs!

Western Wats is the leading provider of survey research data collection. Western Wats empowers decision makers to advance their interests with accurate, timely information. They specialize in quantitative research data collection via live telephone interviewer, automated telephony and the web.

Since 1987, they have been pioneers in data collection. Their proprietary systems have enabled them to remain at the vanguard of technological change. Their expertise and passion about survey research has established Western Wats as the proven partner for the most respected research teams in the world.

CallCenters in Davao as of April 2 2008

International Callcenters

- Sitel in Pryce Tower(callcenter facility)
- Sutherland Chinatown (callcenter facility)
- Sutherland in Luisa Avenue Square’s building 2 (callcenter facility)
- Callbox in Landco Corp Tower (callcenter facility)
- PeopleSupport in Luisa Avenue Square’s building 1 (career center and training facility)
- Etelecare in Plaza de Luisa Complex (career center)
- Link2Support One (callcenter facility)
- Link2Support Two Damosa IT Park (expansion/callcenter facility)
- GCom/Cybercity Teleserv (callcenter facility)
- Western Wats ((callcenter/ back office facility)

Proudly Dabawenyo owned callcenters

- Callwell (callcenter facility)
- Sixeleven Global (callcenter facility)
- Qualiserve (callcenter facility)
- Quantom (callcenter facility)
- and other locally owned contact centers

Sutherland Davao’s Second Callcenter Facility

Sutherland’s second callcenter in Davao will be located near Chimes Mall. Anybody knows where the old PRC is? well that’s the spot.

There was a report before stating Sutherland’s plan to build another call center in Mindanao. And here it is, instead of building another facility in another city, Sutherland will put up its second call center in Davao’s very own Chinatown area. kay: Sutherland Davao’s accounts include a popular social networking website, an anti spam application, and a mobile phone content provider! kay: