FOR the Dagupan City government, it will just be another real estate deal with just a minimal amount in fees in revenues for the city when it rents out the third floor of the Malimgas Public Market to call centers, but the downstream benefit that it will give to the economy is significant.

This was the assessment of Councilor Alfie Fernandez, chair of the committee on trade and industry, when he put forward a draft resolution seeking the conversion of the market’s third floor into an Information Communications Technology Center.

Fernandez said that based on the recommendation of City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara, the third floor of the market could be rented out from P200 to P250 per square meter per month.

Alcantara pointed out that the rather small income that could be generated from call centers is still better than the income presently being earned from the location as a pay parking area.

She pointed out, however, that the projected increase in collections from the Malimgas Market as a result of the conversion will still be insufficient to pay for the amortization of a P300 million loan obtained by the previous administration to build the market.

As many as seven call centers are planning to start operations in Dagupan within the next few months.

Fernandez is optimistic that some 1,200 call center agents working in Dagupan for three shifts can enhance the economy of the city.

He said with each call center agent earning P15,000 a month, there would be more money in circulation in the city.

Alcantara also believes that with the call centers located at the market’s third floor, former stallholders in the second floor who left due to poor sales may be enticed to return.

She said some food shops at the Malmgas Market may also find it profitable to operate 24 hours a day too to serve the round-the-clock operations of call centers.–LM

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