Philippine Cyber Corridor

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines cited Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a key sector to the nation's progress. The Philippine Cyber Corridor was thus conceived as a business that would be able to compete on the international ICT market. In her sixth State of the Nation Address in 2006, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised that her administration would develop the Philippine Cyber Corridor along with other “natural ‘super regions’ of the Philippines". Arroyo believed that the corridor had the potential for increasing telecommunications, technology and education in the country. In addition, she saw the development of the corridor as a counterpoint to the rising number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as members of the work force would ideally no longer have to leave the country in order to secure a job. Furthermore, she promised budget increases for science & technology and education, both important to telecommunications. The Arroyo administration thus embarked on a campaign to increase telecommunications-related services in the country. In 2004, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) was established. One of its aims was to fashion the Philippine Cyber Corridor after the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in Malaysia, which was built in 1997. ==Services==

The PCC hosts BPO companies, call centers, animations studios, software development and gaming businesses, medical and legal transcription outfits, knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) outfits, and back office operations of multinational companies. ==Effect on Local Economy==

The development of the PCC along key cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao also aims to create new IT related jobs for fresh graduates of the respective cities. In creating a demand for the IT industry, local schools and colleges were also inclined to adapt their curriculum to equip their students with skills for the IT sector. Indirectly, the development of the PCC across the nation has also resulted in numerous opportunities for other businesses such to flourish. The hospitality sector, specifically hotels and restaurants catering to ICT and BPO employees, has seen notable growth from this. == Locations ==

According to Arroyo's 2006 SONA, the corridor runs 600 miles from the city of Baguio in the north of the country to the city of Zamboanga in the south of the country. Call centers have opened in Bacolod City, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Baguio. Business process outsourcing operations have also sprung up in Angeles, Legaspi, and Tacloban. Medical transcription agents centers have been established in Dumaguete, Davao, and Naga. Super Regions On August 19, 2006, Executive Order No. 561 was declared by Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, stating the formation of “super” regions and mandate of the super regional development champions. The Philippine economy was to be restructured into "super" regions to bolster the natural advantages of five distinct sub-economies regions of the country in order to create opportunity across the country. Five geographical units were grounded into the following "super" regions During her speech, the former president mentioned that the cyber corridor stretched from “the north from Metro Pampanga and goes down to the south of Davao City.” Arroyo also listed 10 urban areas in the Philippines that known as “Next Wave Cities” also form the cyber corridor. These cities include: Metro Laguna, Metro Cavite, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Metro Pampanga, Metro Bulacan, Cagayan de Oro, Central Bulacan and Lipa. These cities are said to be the “best new destinations of the ICT industry." The cities are, in alphabetical order: Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro City, Dagupan City, Dasmarinas City, Dumaguete City, Lipa City, Malolos City, Naga City, Sta. Rosa City, and Taytay City. Apart from these Next Wave Cities, 10 “New Emerging Cities” are also recognized for the potential in becoming Next Wave Cities. These cities are, in alphabetical order: Balanga City, Batangas City, Iriga City, Laoag City, Legazpi City, Puerto Princesa City, Roxas City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao City, and Zamboanga City. ==See also==