By Mariela Angella Oladive
OBPO Managed Services embarks on a new chapter with Ilonggos through the inauguration of its new building last August 4, 2023.
The ceremony was attended by the former Iloilo City councilor Love Baronda representing the office of lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda and executive assistant Mandrie Malabor from the office of Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Industry experts and business leaders were also present, symbolizing the city’s growing importance as a key player in the country’s BPO sector.
Located at A4J Complex, Lopez Jaena St., Jaro, Iloilo City, the OBPO center is expected to generate an influx of job opportunities and economic growth for the region. It is estimated that the new center will employ hundreds of skilled professional Ilonggos, significantly boosting the local job market.
The inauguration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by OBPO’s President and CEO Alice Grace Ledesma-Bautista and business partner James Rick Stinson, the founder of outbounders.com and globalsky.com, which are OBPO’s exclusive partners for outsourcing.
The center’s inauguration also marked another significant milestone for the company as it commemorated its third anniversary. The newly stood building is a testament to OBPOs strength to strength journey, establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in the BPO industry.
In her speech, OBPO President/CEO Alice Grace Ledesma, reflected on the company’s humble beginnings when they started operating in a 50-square-meter apartment in Mandurriao, Iloilo in support of their Cebu operations in 2016.
They later rented a coworking space and eventually a large house until the pandemic forced them to change their business strategy and shut down their Cebu operations in 2020.
But Bautista saw the challenges as blessings in disguise. They were able to transfer their assets from Cebu to Iloilo and built the new center from the ground up.
Bautista further highlighted OBPO’s dedication, “to provide more livelihood, pride, and opportunities among Ilonggos.”
“Our goal to help the local government in terms of employment apart from setting the distinction as a BPO firm founded in Iloilo by an Ilonggo,” she added.
Central to the OBPO’s mission is the empowerment of its workforce.
“Here in OBPO, we are more relaxed. We want our employees to be working comfortably.
We want to achieve that friendly and homey environment,” Bautista told Daily Guardian.
The new building offers a conducive and excellent workspace to nurture and upskill employees, ensuring they stay at the forefront of the industry.
OBPO has received various recognitions, such as winning the best team award from their international client under healthcare in 2022, partner of the year award by another international client in 2019, and recently Denver Gallo, a true blooded Ilonggo from OBPO was awarded Best Employee among hundreds of other candidates offshore.
OBPO offers inbound and outbound marketing and other call center services for international clients across the globe. Interested applicants may apply online by visiting https://obpo.co/apply-now/. They are also accepting walk-in applicants every day.
OBPO currently employs over 500 agents for office-based and home-based operations in the Philippines. It is now a leading provider of managed call center services and back-office support for small to mid-sized businesses in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Asia Pacific. (https://obpo.co/experience-obpo/)
