Mambabatas, nanawagan sa DTI ukol sa kakulangan sa kongkretong aksyon bilang tugon sa panukalang “Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025”

NANAWAGAN si Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa kakulangan ng kongkretong aksyon bilang tugon sa panukalang “Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025,” isang U.S. legislation na nagbabanta sa Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector at trabaho ng nasa 1.7 miyong Pilipino, kabilang na ang libong Cebuanos na naka asa sa industriya para sa kanilang kabuhayan.
Sa panukala na kasalukuyang tinatalakay sa U.S. Congress, dini-discourage nito ang offshoring ng call center operations sa pamamagitan ng pagre-require sa American companies na ipaalam sa U.S. Secretary of Labor ang planong paglilipat ng trabaho sa ibang bansa.

Inaatas din ang pagpapalabas sa publiko ng mga kumpanya na naga-outsource, pagdiskuwalipika sa kanila mula sa federal grants o loans ng may limang taon at pagbibigay karapatan sa consumers na mapagsilbihan ng U.S.-based service agents.
Sinabi ni Frasco na sa kabila ng posibleng economic fallout, nagkulang ang DTI na magsagawa ng proactive diplomatic o policy steps para depensahan ang interest ng Pilipinas.
“While the DTI has expressed readiness to assist the BPO sector, to date, it has not initiated formal talks with U.S. counterparts, convened a unified strategy with IBPAP, PEZA, and BOI or issued a clear and time-bound action plan to protect our BPO workers.
Frasco stated. “Given our dependence on the U.S. market, a wait-and-see approach is unacceptable. The livelihoods of millions of Filipino families hang in the balance,” ani Frasco.
Isa ang Philippine BPO industry na may malaking tulong sa ekonomiya, na nagbibigay kita ng nasa US$35 billion kada taon. Nasa 70% ng kliyente ang nagmumuls sa U.S.
Ang Cebu, ay isa sa pinakamalaking outsourcing hubs da labas ng Metro Manila.
“Cebu has become a cornerstone of the country’s outsourcing success,. Our local communities benefit greatly from the jobs, skills development, and opportunities created by the BPO sector. Any disruption caused by this U.S. legislation would have a direct and painful impact on Cebuano workers and families,” dagdag nito.
Sa House Resolution No. 386 fna inihain ni Frasco, hinikayat nito ang (DTI), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Board of Investments (BOI), at Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), na agad na magsagawa pakikipag-usap sa a U.S. government upang masiguro ang patuloy na operasyon U.S.-affiliated BPO firms sa bansa.
“The DTI must act with urgency and clarity. The Philippines has long been a trusted and strategic partner of U.S. companies. It is the responsibility of our government to defend that partnership, protect our workers, and safeguard an industry that sustains the livelihood of countless Filipino families, pagtatapos nito. ( Vina de Guzman)