Google opens office in PH, starts hiring

MANILA, Philippines - Google has finally opened office in the Philippines with the launch of its new unit in Makati.

The tech giant on Wednesday said the country is a key market in Southeast Asia amid its growing Internet population.

"The Philippines is a key country in Southeast Asia in terms of its digital economy and tech-savvy population," Julian Persaud, managing director of Google in Southeast Asia, said in the statement.

"This new office will allow us better engage with our local users, partners and advertisers. Over 33 million Filipinos access the Internet regularly... [and this] is set to grow exponentially," Persaud added.

Google also noted it is currently hiring for its Philippine office.

"We're excited to be deepening our investment in the Philippines with the opening of our office here in Manila," Narciso Reyes, country manager for the Philippines, said in the statement.

"Our local team will be committed to providing better services to our Filipino users and to helping businesses - large and small - grow locally and globally, contributing to the growth of the Philippine economy. We envision Google as part of everyday Filipino lives and as a partner in the development of local communities, culture and business," he added.