BPAP heralds members' role in aftermath of flooding

The information technology-business process outsourcing industry has contributed its part in relief operations in the communities affected by the heavy flooding in August this year.   Benedict Hernandez, president of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), said the industry also has obligations to the communities where IT-BPO firms operate.   “Aside from prioritizing the welfare of our employees and our obligations to our clients, IT-BPO companies also responded to the needs of the communities they operate from,” Hernandez said.   Hernandez said Inspire@HP, the corporate social responsibility arm of Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corp., assisted in relief operations led by the company’s crisis management team.   They distributed relief packages to families of employees impacted by the flood. Employee-led relief drives generated over 70 large boxes of clothes, food, medicines, and other supplies that were turned over to the Philippine Red Cross-Makati Chapter.   Also,  the HP Company Foundation released a grant of $25,000 to the Philippine office of Save the Children.   Sitel Philippines Corp., for its part, launched the Mean More Manila Donation Drive to facilitate donations of goods, extending financial assistance and rendering rehabilitation volunteer work among clients, partners, and associates. In the early stages of the campaign, Sitel received a total of $10,600 from two of its clients.   IT-BPO companies also donated to organizations involved in relief operations. Shell Shared Services sent donations to the Red Cross, GMA Kapuso Foundation and ABS-CBN Foundation.   MediCall, the pioneer in medical BPO services in the country, had mobilized its talent pool of healthcare professionals to organize medical missions in affected areas of the metropolis.   President Jeff Williams said MediCall nurses and doctors partnered with USAID in reaching out to more than 300 families in Navotas and Sta. Cruz, Laguna by providing medical assistance to those in need. MediCall also conducted similar medical missions in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.   BPAP is the umbrella organization for the IT-BPO and GIC (Global In-House Center) industry in the Philippines. It has approximately 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations.   In 2011, the business process outsourcing industry generated more than $11 billion in revenues and employed almost 640,000 Filipinos. By 2016, it is expected to rake in $25 billion in annual revenues and employ 1.3 million, according to an industry road map. — VS, GMA News