ORMOC CITY—The call-center firm Apac Customer Services has made Leyte its home, proving that the province is capable of accommodating information and communication technology (ICT) companies. This was bared by Trade Regional Director Cynthia R. Nierras during the First Investment Conference in Ormoc.

Apac’s facility in Palo town currently has 600 seats. It plans to expand to 200 more with the coming of a new partner. Nierras credits this capability of Leyte to its modern communication facilities. Unfortunately, the economic potentials of Apac’s presence remain largely untapped by local businesses.

Despite being in Leyte for two years, Apac still looks to Cebu for its computer hardware maintenance services which local contractors could have filled. The company has not looked into local suppliers for its furniture and fixtures. While other ICT economic zones are teeming with establishments like coffee bars and restaurants, the Leyte ICT Park where Apac is located doesn’t even have a convenience store.

Another big problem of Apac is where to house its foreign executives. Despite their proximity to the regional capital of Tacloban, Apac executives are billeted at a hotel in Abuyog town, some 50.62 km south, or 45 minutes to one-hour drive from Palo.

“Here in Ormoc you have very good hotels. Tacloban needs hotels like what you have in Ormoc,” Nierras said.

But the biggest potential Apac brings is its manpower requirement which is an opportunity to the region’s universities to provide training enhancement skills on English proficiency and computer use to its students.

Nierras expressed fear that if the mentioned services remain unmet, other call centers giving Apac three years to operate before coming in to Leyte might change their mind.