PHL needs to invest on education to sustain HR competitiveness

CEBU, Philippines - For the Philippines to sustain its competitive edge in human resource (HR), it has to invest more on education by providing affordable post-graduate programs.

Renowned international strategist Brian To said that there is a need for the Philippines to prepare for the changing trend of human resource competitiveness in the next few years. The skilled and sought-after Filipino workers, if not armed with good educational credentials as postgraduate degrees, will surely be out-classed by other Asians who are considering to compete in the global workforce.

Undoubtedly, Filipinos are the most in demand human resource in the world because of their good behaviorial edge which is quick adaptibility of culture, working environment, strong collaboration attitude, and cheerful disposition. But if they will not be given strong educational support in the Philippines, and if they won’t be encouraged to take up postgraduate studies, this particular competitive edge may be snatched by other nationalities.

To, who is a senior Fellow at The Wharton School, and working with Fortune 500 corporations as business professor and manager adviser for over 25 years, said that if   Filipinos will not catch up, they will lose the opportunity of global employment in the next few years.

What happens now, he said, is that college graduates tend to enter into the workforce immediately due to financial obligations, and limited resources to pursue masteral and other post graduate studies.

But the future trend is, competition of workforce will not only be gauge by skills and attitude, but major consideration will be put into credentials and advanced educational backgrounds.

“You have what it takes but unfortunately most of Filipinos can not afford to pursue further education,” said To reiterating that the demand for workers in the next few years will be needing post-graduate backgrounds.

He said aside from medical professionals, Filipinos are also known as innovators, good designers — creative part is what Filipinos are excelling at abroad.

In other countries, he said their governments are allocating budget to improve their human resource capabilities, including the promotion of affordable post-graduate programs.

But, in the Philippines, this dimention in the educational system remains to be expensive for the majority.

Locally, the rise of the call center manpower demand is not a long-term solution to sustain the employment rate in the country. It has to be backed up by a good pool of highly-qualified workforce.

The Philippines will be competiting with India and China in terms of global human resource supply. To said these countries are preparing their next generation workforce to compete globally.

“The Philippines has fallen in all areas of opportunity,” he said comparing Philippines to other countries in Asia.

To was in Cebu to promote the upcoming charitable business workshop to be held in March next year, dubbed “Strategy Formulation Seminar: A Charity Event.”

Strategy Formulation is the first module of a three part module on Corporate Strategy, which is specifically developed program for corporate executives with “For Profit Experience” and non-profit organizations.

The proceeds of the seminar will be donated to the Sagip Buhay Medical Foundation to provide medications to less fortunate patients admitted at the Medicine Wards and ICUs of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila.

In Cebu, the charity business seminar is supported by Global Carriers Phils.Inc. led by Carmel del Pio Salvador. (FREEMAN)