President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the ePLDT Ventus facility in Iloilo City. It is the first major call center of the province. Shown here with the President are (from left) ePLDT Business Development Director Ken Brian Lamzon, ePLDT Senior Vice President Rosalie Montenegro, and Iloilo Governor Neil Tupas.

The President waves at Ventus employees on the floor. Greeting her is Customer Service Representative (CSR) Mylene Barrido. Looking on is ePLDT Business Director Ken Lamzon and Ventus' top performing CSR Julius Tuvilla.

ePLDT is bringing quality employment to the provinces through the call centers.

As a testament to this, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently visited the ePLDT Ventus facility in Iloilo. ePLDT Ventus is currently on its fourth month of operations and is the first major call center in the province.

ePLDT Senior Vice President Rosalie Montenegro and Business Development Director Ken Brian Lamzon welcomed the President. Among the other dignitaries present were Senator Manuel Roxas, TESDA director general Augusto Syjuco, Iloilo Governor Neil Tupas, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Tre?s.

The visit highlighted the contributions of ePLDT call centers in empowering Filipinos through sustainable and quality careers, without job seekers having to relocate to Metro Manila.

Ventus has provided jobs to 110 permanent employees and will continue to provide more employment opportunities to Ilonggos in the year to come, Lamzon said.

ePLDT Ventus can accommodate 300 customer service representative (CSR) seats. Lamzon said they plan to fill up all 300 seats by the middle of the year.

ePLDT Ventus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ePLDT. It is organized to engage in the business of providing customer contact services and all forms of business process services for the purpose of the requirements of clients, whether in or outside the Philippines, through various multimedia or personal access services, Lamzon said.

Currently, Ventus is providing customer care services to the largest US-based floral wire service company. Once it reaches full capacity, the Ventus call center is expected to generate US$ 1.075 in annual net income and is seen to expand the Iloilo business to 1,000 seats by the end of 2006.

The President is flanked by Ventus employees (from left) Pam Palabrica, Clyde Olivarez, Paula Nava, Nova Marie Arcosa, and Aulynn Yue Sin.

Senator Manuel Mar Roxas poses for a lighthearted photo session with ePLDT Ventus employees.