CICT pushes for ICT-enabled ecosystem

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) is pushing for the development of an ICT-enabled ecosystem in order to sustain the growth of the Philippines’ BPO-IT industry.

CICT chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III said that the industry’s ecosystem which involves schools, local governments, and small businesses should be strengthened to accelerate the growth of BPO-IT industry.

“It is no longer enough to provide for the basic necessities to support the industry like the usual recruiting agencies and infrastructure,” said Roxas-Chua.

“To be more sustainable in the long run, we need to develop the ecosystem that could create more awareness on the benefits of ICT. This will develop the necessary skills and environment that would help keep the industry moving forward,” he added.

The CICT recently launched the “Convergence 2009” program, a series of road shows started from June to November, aimed at pursuing CICT’s industry objectives focused on four strategic areas such as cyberservices, human capital development, eGoverment development and ICT infrastructure.

With the local BPO-IT industry posting a $6 million revenue in 2008, CICT reported the Philippines is poised to grab 10 percent of the global offshoring and outsourcing market by 2010. But to achieve this, about one million new employees are needed to join the industry.

“Talent determines the growth of the industry as the Philippines presently generates 320,000 jobs. And in fact an additional 600,000 are needed today,” Roxas-Chua said.

The Convergence 2009 kick off highlighted a multi-sit video conference involving 10 of the 11 so-called “next wave cities” in the Philippines tapped to cater the BPO-IT industry, namely: Lipa, Bulacan, Metro Cavite, Iloilo, Metro Laguna, Bacolod, Metro Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Pampanga. The province of Daet Camarines Sur was later announced to be an additional member of the group.

For his part, Avinash Vashishta, chairman and CEO of Tholons, a full-service strategic advisory firm, said that the outsourcing industry continues to be resilient to the ongoing global economic recession, noting there have been no company shutdowns and bankruptcies taking place.

Vashishta cited that finance and accounting are strong potentials for the Philippines to exploit since the country’s education is most likely similar to the US.

Convergence 2009 is described to be the broadest ICT initiative by the government, supported by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) and the Coordinating Council Of Private Education Associations (COCOPEA). The project aims to promote the Philippine Cyber Corridor program and the developing BPO-IT location cities, ensure the supply of talent for the BPO-IT industry, increase awareness on the use of ICT and to develop the small-and medium-enterprises (SMEs) through technology.