Candido: first call center in WM disproves claims about Zambo

12/08/2009 08:20

Mayor Celso Lobregat observes a call agent of the e.AXS Communications, Inc., the first ever call center to operate using the state of the art facilities in Western MIndanao, receives a call from a client as the company goes live on Monday night. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

The chairman of the Council committee on information and telecommunications said the opening of e.AXS Communications Inc., the first ever call center to operate using the state of the art facility in Western Mindanao, negates the claim of some sectors that peace and order problems drive away call center investors from the city.

Councilor Rey Candido said no less than Mr. Nilo Bantilan, business head of the SME Group Vis-Min Area declared during the launching of the Tetuan call center that the e.AXS is the first call center to be operational in Western Mindanao using the state of the art facilities.

Bantilan also announced during his message before the guests that compared to other areas in Western Mindanao, Zamboanga City is ready for high band call center operations because connectivity infrastructures are in place, according to Candido.

“Who would be more credible than Mr. Bantilan? Unless they want to argue with Mr. Bantilan,” the councilor said. “It was not Mayor Celso Lobregat who claimed that it (the newly opened call center) is the first in Western Mindanao but it was the PLDT official who announced it during the opening program.”

Candido also stressed that the issue is not as to which call center established first and where “but the claim from some sectors that a call center intended for Zamboanga City backed out from its plan and instead transferred to Dapitan City because of peace and order problems.”

“I will not even argue with Mr. Bantilan because to me he is an authority on the subject,” the legislator, who is a former member of the media, said.

Candido said the e.AXS Communications, Inc. and the other call center investors that will come in will disprove the claim of some sectors who are trying to paint a negative image of the city.

No less than the PLDT official during the opening program Saturday said he expects more call center companies to open up in the city because of the connectivity infrastructures in place.

Meanwhile, Bantilan in an interview yesterday, confirmed anew that the e.AXS Communications Inc. is the first call center to operate in Western Mindanao using I-gate facilities, a state of the art facility.

“Call centers can be operated by broad band or a private lease line like the I-gate and the Zamboanga call center is using the high speed facility,” he said.

He reiterated that the Dapitan call center is still undergoing connectivity requirements. “Their (Dapitan Call center) was for I-gate facilities also but Zamboanga compared to Dapitan has the infrastructures in place.” (Sheila Covarrubias)