The country's mega business process outsourcing firms are expected to spearhead the production of roughly 124,000 new full-time jobs in 2014, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said yesterday.

Romulo said in a press statement that, “based on sectoral projections, they are confident that BPO firms will be able to add an average of 124,000 well-paying jobs annually from 2014 to 2016, or a total of 372,000 new posts over the next three years.”

“This will help address unemployment, especially among college-educated Filipinos,” Romulo, who is chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education, said.

Mayor eyes re-opening
of Vendors Plaza

The re-opening of the Vendors Plaza market that has been a “white-elephant” for several years now, is being eyed by Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella.

Puentevella said the building constructed along with the jeepney terminal in Brgy. 12 near the SM City mall during the time of then Mayor Luzviminda Joy Valdez, is no longer being utilized.

He also bared plans to expand the Bacolod Central, Libertad and Burgos public markets and the rehabilitation of barangay markets.

‘Neg. Occ. still bird flu-free'

Provincial Veterinary Officer Renante Decena said yesterday that Negros Occidental continues to be bird-flu-free.

Decena said they are getting serum samples from poultry animals from the town of San Enrique and the cities of Himamaylan, Escalante and Sagay that are frequented by migratory birds.

They are sending the samples to the Philippine Animal Health Center to check if they are infected with bird-flu or not, he also said.