Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has backed the appeal of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to extend the work-from-home (WFH) scheme.
The Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), according to Treñas, should study the possibility of further extending the scheme where employees can work from the comfort of their homes.
“Para sa akon, let’s listen to the BPO sector ila na ya ginabatyag kag ipamatian ta. Mabulig lang kita sa ila,” the mayor said.
Citing the BPO setup in India, one of the top countries for BPO services, Treñas said a WFH scheme for workers have benefits.
“You have to understand like in Iloilo City, ang BPO sector ta nag-increase pa sang pandemic nga ara sila naga work from home,” he stressed.
“I think NEDA and DOF should continue the dialogue with the BPO sector kay ti we are seeing that the BPO sector will continue to increase in numbers like what is happening in Iloilo City even if they continue to work from home,” he added.
The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) required Information Technology (IT)-BPO firms to implement the return-to-office (RTO) scheme starting April 1.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said the firms may continue implementing their WFH setups, however, they “must give up the tax incentives they currently enjoy because the law is clear on this.”IMT
