The information technology and business process management (ITBPM) industry can create a larger Filipino middle class, with more than a million families relying on this sector for their livelihood.
In addition, Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president and chief executive officer Jack Madrid said the industry is a critical pillar of the economy and has helped more Filipinos achieve middle-income status.
"The ITBPM sector was once dominated by just two countries—India and the Philippines. But now, we're seeing other markets, like Poland, Egypt, South Africa, and Vietnam, emerging as competitors. Each market has its unique value proposition, and while we are still one of the leaders, maintaining our position will require us to improve our skills and services continually," Madrid said.
Madrid said to expand the industry further and create more quality jobs for Filipinos, IBPAP continues to tap opportunities in its primary market, North America, while exploring other markets with growing demand for Philippine-based back office services, including Asia Pacific, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
IBPAP chief operating office Celeste Ilagan added that the industry group will join the Department of Trade and Industry's investment missions in Japan and Europe to attract more global shared services companies to locate their back office support in the Philippines.
Moreover, IBPAP executive director for talent development Frankie Antolin told reporters that there is an increasing demand for workers in ITBPM subsectors such as animation and game development, healthcare, accounting, and other financial services, among others.
"These are the areas where we are hearing our industry members struggling to find talent," Antolin said on the sidelines of the Wednesday International ITBPM Summit at Okada Manila.
MOA with DepEd
Meanwhile, Antolin mentioned that the IBPAP and the Department of Education (DepEd) are working on a partnership to help senior high school students become employable in ITBPM companies once they graduate from Grade 12.
"So we have been talking to DepEd about enhancing the senior high work immersion program. And we're happy that there's traction," she said. "We are in the final stages of the MOA (memorandum of agreement) with the Department of Education."
"So we intend to help the senior high school students, graduates, become more employable, more time in work premises, more exposure in the workplace—if we could, maybe transfer some of the learning that employers would give to newly hired employees," Antolin added.
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