A Palace official has cited the administration’s sound economic management that propelled growth in remittances, foreign capital, and business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism, and export earning.

“We credit sustained growth in remittances, foreign capital, and BPO, tourism and export earnings — all helped by sound economic management,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said.

A “robust digital infrastructure” as well as a “flourishing cyber sector” will be among the legacies that will be inherited by President Arroyo’s successor when her term ends in June this year, he said.

Olivar said that the BPO and the information and communications technology (ICT) sectors have been among the frontrunners of the country’s economic growth during the term of President Arroyo, and which will benefit her successor, particularly in creating an upscale direction in terms of human resources and economic development.

“The President does not claim sole credit for the success of the BPO sector. She has always mentioned the baseline number of 2,000 call center employees when she assumed office. What is indisputable is the phenomenal growth from 2,000 to half a million BPO employees on her watch,” Olivar said.

“Every presidency inherits the legacy of its predecessor, and what President Arroyo’s successor will inherit from her is a robust digital infrastructure and a flourishing cyber sector on which may continue to be built as the sunshine industries of the future,” he added.

Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said that aside from the BPO industry, which is pegged at $7 billion a year, another legacy of President Arroyo is her record on international reserves, which is now at $45 billion, citing that the President was able to boost the peso at P46 per $1.

On Saturday, President Arroyo was at the Porac Model Community High School in Brgy. Pio in Porac, Pampanga for the turnover of 500 computer units donated by the two Korean private firms: the Hyundai Securities Bond Company (HSBC) and Philuncast Development Company (PUDC), to seven municipalities in Pampanga. The computer units are worth a total of P4 million.

“We want our young generation to be ready for the innovative age of the 21st century,” Arroyo said during the turnover ceremony.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Cyber Corridor, which includes Pampanga, will now enable more job opportunities, particularly in the BPO and ICT sectors.

The HSBC and the PUDC have pledged to provide additional 6,000 computers with Internet connectivity all over the country.

Out of the 500 desktop computers, 60 units each were given to the municipalities of Bacolor, Sta. Rita and Sasmuan; 80 units each for Floridablanca and Guagua; 70 units for Porac; and 90 units for Lubao.

One of the five Super Regions launched during the State-of-the-Nation-Address (SoNA) of President Arroyo in 2006, the Cyber Corridor aims to enhance the country’s technology related services. It also aims to increase computer literacy and access to the Internet.

The Cyber Corridor includes Metro Manila and Cebu as well as Laguna, Cavite, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cagayan de Oro, and Batangas.

The Philippines has one of the leading BPO industries in the world aside from India and China.