BPO started by Erap administration, not GMA

Reacting to the crowing of President Arroyo on her claimed legacy of the reported P7-billion business process outsourcing

(BPO) industry which she said she had “built from scratch” and which is the major key for the Philippines to finally join the ranks of developed countries, former President Joseph Estrada’s spokesman, Margaux Salcedo yesterday, pointed out that the Arroyo administration did not build the BPO industry

from scratch. The Estrada administration, she stressed, started this industry sector.

“The Arroyo administration did not build the BPO industry from scratch. The BPO industry was started by the Erap administration,” Salcedo said yesterday in reaction the Arroyo claim.

“The BPO Industry had its beginnings when former President Joseph Estrada directed the Department of Trade and Industry in 1999 to expand the existing Economic Zones to include IT or Information Technology related businesses,” Salcedo clarified. 

“The Department of Trade and Industry got a directive from President Estrada to position the Philippines as an IT center. They even commissioned a special study to research prospects and then-DTI Secretary Jose ‘Titoy’ Pardo was even sent to India and Silicon Valley in the United States to explore opportunities.”

The Philippines, under the Estrada administration, was then able to partner with India and thus received the necessary training in the conduct of BPO.

Clarifying the history of the Business Processing Outsourcing industry in the Philippines, former Trade and Industry Jose “Titoy” Pardo said, “The BPO industry may have matured during the GMA administration but it cannot ignore that its origins are from the Estrada administration.” 

“It was during President Estrada’s administration that the Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City in Alabang, the Eastwood City Cyberpark, and the RCBC Plaza IT centers were inaugurated in 1999,” Pardo recalled. Pardo was Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or Peza at the time. 

Pardo also revealed that it was during the Estrada administration that the interpretation of the Peza Law was expanded to include the Information Technology industry. The tax exemptions were designed to work as incentives for BPOs. This was instrumental in changing the industry climate to encourage BPO businesses to invest in the country.

Arroyo, touring the so-called “cyber corridor,” bragged that she would be turning over to her successor the call center industry which she said has become the second biggest global earner which would leave to the Philippines obtaining Frist World status.

A newspaper report quoted her as saying that “much work remains to be done but I am determined to turn over to the new government a new Philippines ready for the new challenge of bringing the nation on the verge of (becoming) First World in 20 years,” she said.

“Two hundred years ago there was the agriculture revolution, then there was the Industrial Revolution, and now we have the knowledge revolution -- and that’s the way to bring us to the First World,” she said.

She claimed full credit for having started “from scratch” the BPO industry, as she passes this claim off as part of her “legacy” to the Filipino people.

Erap to boost campaign after Comelec nod on candidacy

Former President Joseph Estrada on Thursday said he is looking to boost his electoral campaign now that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given him the go signal to pursue the presidency once more.

In an interview over GMA News' Unang Hirit, Estrada said many people have expressed willingness to contribute to his campaign after the Comelec dismissed two petitions to disqualify him from running for president in the May elections. [See: Comelec allows Erap to run in May 10 polls]

"Marami namang gustong tumulong; dagdagan yung TV ads dahil medyo mahal ng konti eh kaya maraming gustong tumulong ngayon lalo na nung lumabas yung desisyon sa Comelec (There are many who want to help; TV ads are expensive so many are willing to help, especially after the Comelec released its decision)," the former president said.

Estrada said he would also continue his "Lakbay Pasasalamat" to thank his supporters who stood by him even while he was incarcerated.

With the Comelec decision, Estrada expressed confidence that he would rise higher in surveys on preferred presidential candidates, noting that he consistently ranked third even back when there were doubts on the legitimacy of his renewed bid for the presidency.

The decision, however, is not yet final since the petitioners can still appeal the same before the Comelec en banc and even the Supreme Court.



Quite ironically, the Comelec's Second Division released its decision allowing Estrada to have another shot at the presidency on the same day that he was forced out of office nine years ago.

Highest vote

Estrada was elected president in 1998 with over 10 million votes, the highest vote a presidential candidate ever had in Philippine history.

After less than three years in power, he was toppled by a popular uprising many dub as "EDSA Dos" amid corruption allegations and before an impeachment court could rule on his case.

In September 2007, Estrada was convicted by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan for plunder, sentenced to reclusion perpetua and disqualified from seeking public office.

A month later, however, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him executive clemency, thus restoring his political and civil rights, including his right to run for public office.

To this day, Estrada maintains that the Edsa Dos uprising--which consequently propelled then-Vice President Arroyo to the presidency--was a mistake.

"Si President Cory Aquino, she touched my heart nung siya sa publiko humingi ng tawad sa akin sa pagkakamali ng Edsa Dos," he said in the same television interview.

Cory apology

The late former President Aquino, who was the first to be propelled to the presidency through people power after millions of Filipinos supported a military uprising against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, was one of the leaders of EDSA Dos.

However, she publicly apologized to Estrada in December 2008 for helping oust him. [See: 'Guilty' Cory says sorry to Estrada for EDSA 2 revolt]

A day after the Comelec allowed Estrada to run again, pro-Estrada ads calling on people to right the supposed wrongs of EDSA Dos were published in newspapers.

"Ang pagkakamali ng Edsa Dos... Iwasto natin sa May 2010... Ibalik ang Pwersa sa Masa (Right the wrongs of EDSA-Dos in May 2010. Bring the power to the masses)," the message of the ad went.

The ads, placed in Metro Manila broadsheets and tabloids, featured a photo of Estrada's wrist with his "trademark" wristband with the presidential seal, reaching out to the masses.

Quotes from personalities questioning the impact of EDSA Dos on the Constitution were featured in the ads. Also included in the ads were apologies to Estrada by Mrs. Aquino and Catholic bishop Antonio Tobias. - Johanna Camille Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV

Mayor Binay laughs off rumors of Erap quitting race

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has laughed off rumors that former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada is planning to withdraw from the presidential race, saying only a disqualification can stop the former chief executive from reclaiming the highest post in the land. In an exclusive interview with the Manila Bulletin, Binay said their tandem’s standing on pre-election surveys and the triviality of the disqualification cases filed against Estrada are reasons enough for the former president to pursue his political fight.

“Even with the pendency of the disqualification cases against President Erap, he was in high spirits. He knew that it will not prosper, so whoever is floating these rumors are only threatened by President Erap’s winnability as a candidate. All of these are plain rumor mongering. President Erap is not withdrawing from the race,” Binay said.

Claiming the Estrada-Binay tandem is stronger than ever and the team to beat in the May elections, Binay confirmed rumors that they are being invited to be endorsed by the Liberal Party faction led by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

According to Binay’s spokesperson, Joey Salgado, the initiative of the LP-Atienza wing only confirms their claim that other parties believe in the formidability of the Estrada-Binay tandem, apart from the warm reception of the public in provincial sorties they do for their “Lakbay Pasasalamat.” By KRIS BAYOS