Call Center Firm Convergys Donates to Philippine Charity

By David Sims

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Contact center firm Convergys (News - Alert) has donated $20,000 to Gawad Kalinga to support that organization's programs and further its mission to eliminate poverty in the Philippines.

According to the Manila Sun-Star, Convergys "supports Gawad Kalinga's vision for the Philippines: for the country to be a slum-free, squatter-free nation. By providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, and food for the hungry, the organization hopes to ultimately provide dignity and peace for every Filipino."

"Corporate citizenship is a core value at Convergys Corporation. As a company and as individuals, we work to improve lives and build stronger communities. This investment in the betterment of our community is an important step toward creating a strong, healthy environment for our children, families, friends, and neighbors," Marife Zamora, Convergys vice president and country manager, told the newspaper.


The Sun-Star reported that Zamora, along with other Convergys executives Clint Streit, Ivic Mueco, and Stephen Slade, presented the Convergys check to Danilo "Danny" Lagahid, Cebu Provincial Coordinator for Gawad Kalinga, at the opening of Convergys' newest contact center in Cebu.

To date, "Gawad Kalinga has changed lives in over 900 communities throughout the Philippines. Through programs including, Shelter and Site Development, Child and Youth Development, Health, Productivity, Community Empowerment, Environment and Community Values Formation, Gawad Kalinga is working every day to make the Philippines a better place to live."

Earlier this month Convergys announced expansion to Bacolod City in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2008, earmarking about $3 million to build its ninth Philippine-based facility with an initial 300 employees. The 3,000-square-meter facility at the San Antonio Park Square can accommodate about 500 employees.

 

Executive vice-president for Global Operations Clint Streit said the company was considering other locations in Western Visayas for future facilities. He said that despite the appreciation of the peso, the company is growing fast enough to expand.

 

Business process outsourcing firms recently expressed concern over the effects of the strong peso and are considering seeking government help. Convergys, however, is already satisfied with the tax holidays recently granted by the government, said Streit.

 

"The government has been very supportive and we really can't ask for more. I think it is unfair to ask the government to step in to rein in the strengthening peso, which is more a function of the US economy's troubles," he said, adding "what the private sector needs to do is look for ways to cope, say through hedging. We at Convergys are into hedging."

 

As for future expansion after Bacolod City, country manager Marife Zamora said that the company was considering areas where there is an abundance of English-speaking college graduates who are also proficient in information technology. Zamora told reporters that in Bacolod, for instance, the local talent pool speak English better than Filipino.

 

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