Thousands of jobs are expected to open up for Boholano IT professionals following the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) registration of Tagbilaran Uptown Realty Corporation’s (TURC) newly proclaimed Tagbilaran Uptown Information Technology (IT) Hub 2 — marking a significant step in expanding the ecozone program to rural and emerging growth areas.

The registration of the Tagbilaran Uptown 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 the recent proclamation of the new IT Park by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under Proclamation No. 821.

Following the success of the 1.4-hectare Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub 1 — the first PEZA-registered 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.

During the signing event, TURC Administrator Uy emphasized the social and economic impact of the initial IT Hub, 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."

The Tagbilaran Uptown IT Hub 2, the second PEZA-registered ecozone in Bohol, will span approximately 11,237 square meters in Tagbilaran City. The new zone is envisioned to further expand TURC’s reach and enhance its local economic impact.

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

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

Highlighting PEZA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing ecozone development in emerging regions, Director General 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," said Panga.