Gokongwei-led Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) has expanded its office portfolio outside Metro Manila with the completion of a new hub for the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector in Ilocos Norte.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered Ilocos office space is located in three of the four floors of the expansion building of Robinsons Place Ilocos in San Nicolas. It features large office floor plates of about 3,100 square meters with a total leasable area of 7,829.24 square meters.

This new hub targets BPOs which are setting up offices in new growth areas outside the metropolis.

“BPO companies locate in the provinces to take advantage of less competition for talent; lower office rental rates and lower cost of talent,” RLC office buildings division general manager Faraday Go said in a recent press statement.

“The location can also serve as a back-up site for BCP (business continuity planning) purposes and there is a significantly lower entry-level salary base as compared to Metro Manila. There are also sufficient telecommunications infrastructure in these provinces as well,” he added.

The new office space is equipped with energy-saving variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning system; fire alarm detection system (FDAS), fire sprinklers and smoke detectors; CCTV surveillance with 24/7 security; and multiple telecom providers. It also has 24/7 operation capability with 100 percent back-up power.

The office has exclusive lobby and elevators for office tenants, connectivity to the mall, space for a recruitment center at the ground floor, as well as signage options for tenants.

The Robinsons Place Ilocos mall complex in San Nicolas offers vast food, dining, shopping and entertainment options including a supermarket and cinemas.�

“BPO employees can there achieve or aspire for a work/play balance lifestyle due to the proximity of these facilities,” Go said.

San Nicolas is a center of business in Ilocos Norte with local businesses coming from the retail, services, manufacturing, real estate leasing, printing and advertising, and distribution sectors.

The shopping and office complex is located near the main road and along the route of public transportation. “The site of Robinsons Place Ilocos makes it ideal for BPO offices since it is within close proximity to several universities- five minutes away from Laoag City and 20 minutes from the airport, and is easily accessible from the National Highway,” said Go.

The new Ilocos hub is one of several provincial office hubs of Robinsons Land. Others include Robinsons Luisita in Tarlac City, Robinsons Cybergate Cebu and Robinsons Galleria Cebu in Cebu City, Cybergate Delta in Davao City, and Cybergate Naga in Naga City.

http://business.inquirer.net/245132/rlc-opens-office-hub-ilocos-norte