PH Positioning As "Global IT-BPM Powerhouse"

The Philippines is poised to become a global Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) powerhouse, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said.

The IT-BPM sector employed 1.82 million people last year, up 7 percent from 1.7 million in the previous year. I Photo: EPERFORMAX CONTACT CENTERS Facebook 

PEZA shared that it continues to collaborate closely with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) in enhancing the country’s competitiveness as an IT-BPM investment hub.

Both entities are advocating for necessary policy reforms and incentives to achieve this goal.

To date, PEZA hosts over 1,000 registered IT-BPM companies, with investments exceeding ₱200 billion, providing direct employment to more than 980,000 Filipinos. PEZA Deputy Director General Maria Veronica F. Magsino reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to supporting the industry.

Meanwhile, IBPAP is intensifying efforts to promote the Philippines as a global leader in high-value services amid growing initiatives to bring back production operations and jobs to the United States.

The association highlighted the need to navigate global policy changes that may impact the industry. It noted that 70 percent of the industry’s client base comes from the United States, making it crucial to monitor developments there.

“A push for reshoring and nearshoring could impact the Philippines, making it imperative for IBPAP to double down on repositioning the country as a global leader in high-value services such as banking, financial services, healthcare, and digital transformation,” IBPAP emphasized.

In 2024, the IT-BPM industry generated $38 billion in revenue, a 7 percent increase from $35.5 billion in 2023. The sector employed 1.82 million people last year, up 7 percent from 1.7 million in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the Philippines’ strategic role in Indo-Pacific geopolitics as it aligns education with the evolving IT-BPM landscape.

Additionally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) emphasized the industry’s importance in job creation, urging IT-BPM firms to take the lead in enterprise-based education through the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Law.

TESDA also called for an expansion of apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and digital upskilling programs.