Iloilo City (1 April) -- Amid the global economic slowdown, the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector continues to be the leading source of local employment as it is expected to generate more jobs in the country this year.

The Department of Labor and Employment estimated that the BPO industry can generate as high as 120,000 jobs within the year.

For instance, Convergys will have three more branches located in Ayala Land TechnoHub in Quezon, Nuvali Technohub in Laguna and Cebu Asiatown in Cebu which will be opened at the same time on April 1.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead the dedication ceremony at the Nuvali TechnoHub in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

On the other hand, QC Mayor Feliciano Belmonte and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia will lead the ceremonies at the UP Technohub in Quezon City and in Convergys Cebu at Asiatown i3 Center, Cebu City, respectively.

According to a Malacanang report with the three new sites generating 3,000 additional jobs, Convergys now has a total of 12 operational contact center facilities in the Philippines with an approximate 16,000 Filipino employees among the 75,000 Convergys workers worldwide.