ICT Office to survey next-wave cities with potential to host BPOs

CEBU, Philippines - The Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO) will spearhead a survey that will identify the potential of next wave cities in taking advantage of the fast growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.

This was announced yesterday by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary Mario G. Montejo, following the recent implementation of Executive Order 47 that transferred the former Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) and two other attached agencies under the DOST.

 Other than internal re-structuring of the CICT that is now called ICT Office, the DOST will “prepare a medium-term development plan for ICT research and development and its linkages to the ICT industry”.

He said the survey of selected towns will complement the next-wave cities that the government and industry partners charted for expansion of the high-flying BPO sector.

“Such linkages are expected to accelerate ICT driven growth because EO 47 empowers the government to harmonize ICT policies, plans, programs, and related resources”, said Montejo in a statement released yesterday.

A rationalization plan to be completed in three months will also fold the National Computer Center (NCC) and the Telecommunications Office (TelOf) into the reconfigured ICTO.

“We want to help diversify the services that the BPO industry currently provides from voice to non-voice services, which offer attractive compensation package”, Montejo added.

Adjacent towns to next-wave cities are leading candidates for the planned survey, along with towns that implement forward looking and innovative governance system.

“EO 47 enhances DOST’s countryside industrial development program that includes technology transfer and technology intervention to local industries”, DOST spokesman Raymund E. Liboro also said.

DOST is working to diffuse technologies and job opportunities to the provinces and towns. “Hopefully, we can contribute to reverse migration from urban centers to rural areas”, he added.

Meanwhile, Mentejo dispelled fears that ICT will take a backseat in government development priorities. Instead, he assured leaders in the BPO sector that the EO 47 creating the ICTO, will result to “leaner, meaner planning and management” of government ICT resources to e-governance and industry growth.

He mentioned the ongoing joint development program with the University of the Philippines (UP) on software that can help aspiring BPO workers to polish on their accents right in the comfort of their homes.

At present, the $15-billion BPO industry directly employs about 600,000 Filipinos. It is still expanding. But lack of qualified people threatens its growth. Only seven percent of applicants reportedly are accepted. One of the main reasons for the high attrition rate is flawed diction, an earlier DOST report said.

“The English Proficiency Training (EPT) Software can boost the growing BPO industry with a large pool of aspiring BPO workers”, he added. (FREEMAN)