Bohol workers benefit from Tagbilaran’s IT hub

Thousands of jobs await Boholano information technology (IT) workers following the recent registration of Tagbilaran Uptown Realty Corp (TURC) for the newly unveiled Tagbilaran Uptown Information Technology (IT) Hub 2 in Bohol with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), a major advancement in the mission of the investment promotion agency to bring the ecozone program to rural and new growth areas.

The registration of the Tagbilaran Uptown Information Technology (IT) Hub 2 was sealed between PEZA director general Tereso Panga and TURC President Albert Uy, and witnessed by PEZA deputy director general for policy and planning Anidelle Joy Alguso and TURC administrator and corporate secretary Josephine Uy.

The registration agreement formalizes President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent proclamation of the new IT Park under Proclamation 821.

Ecozones boost economy

Building on the success of the 1.4-hectare Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub 1, the first IT Park in Bohol, the zone significantly boosted local economic activity and employment. Currently, it hosts TaskUs, a leading IT-BPM company employing over 1,400 workers in its Bohol operations alone.

At the event, TURC administrator Uy emphasized the initial IT Hub’s significant social and economic impacts, noting that the project “has greatly changed the employment landscape in Bohol.

The increasing job opportunities in Bohol have enabled residents, particularly fresh graduates, to build careers within their hometown, reducing the need to seek employment opportunities in neighboring provinces such as Iloilo, Cebu, or even Metro Manila.”

Envisioned to expand and enhance its impact, the Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub 2, the second PEZA-registered ecozone in Bohol, will span approximately 11,237 square meters in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

With a projected investment of over P200 million, the expansion aims to generate additional jobs and attract more IT-BPM locators.

A prospective locator has already expressed interest in establishing operations in the new zone, potentially investing upwards of P70 million and employing more than 500 Filipinos.

Highlighting PEZA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing ecozone development, particularly in emerging regions, DG Panga commended TURC for significantly advancing Bohol’s competitiveness in the IT-BPM sector.

The strategic collaboration signifies increased investor confidence in the Visayas and reinforces PEZA’s commitment to inclusive, technology-driven, and sustainable development in the countryside.