ICT sector readies for integration

CEBU, Philippines - The Information, Communication and Technology sector in Cebu is gearing up for the inevitable implementation of the ASEAN integration next year.

Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology  executive director Wilfredo Sa-a Jr., said the sector has already identified the challenges that industry players are most likely to encounter in a unified market, saying preparing the educational system and understanding the changing market requirements are now being started.

Sa-a also added that local players are now also bracing themselves for a tougher environment and identifying the challenges that they may be facing.

However, Sa-a said although there are certain major concerns and challenges, the ICT sector also anticipates opportunities that will be brought in by the integration.

"The integration has already started happening in 2010 with tariff of some products already reduced. This integration allows for free movement of goods and services as well as capital and with it is some 600 million captive market for our products, however, we should know how we can tap that huge market and compete," he said.

Sa-a said the country’s leverage in ICT and outsourcing is its advantage in the ASEAN region.     

In fact, he said there is a big possibility that the Philippine outsourcing sector may become the top choice for offshore operations among ASEAN member countries.

Meanwhile, National Computer Center head for the Visayas operations Frederick Amores said that for the Philippines to fully capitalize on the strength of the outsourcing and ICT sectors, infrastructure needs to be improved.

"We have not established complete network coverage in all parts of the country. Our bandwidth here is also more expensive than the bandwidth in Japan. There must be something that should be done about that if we want to compete," said Amores.

With the entry of the ASEAN economic community Amores mentioned that there is also a need for the local capitalists to grab the opportunity in putting their money in ICT and BPO investments, before foreign investors can fully enjoy Filipinos' diversed talents.

At present, Amores said most ICT and outsourcing investments are foreign owned, although this is not bad, but it would be good if local investors will also be able to take this golden chance.

For Cebu, Sa-a said the province has already saw this need and is actively doing events that will encourage more local investments for outsourcing and ICT.

"One example is the startup weekend which CEDFIT is also an active partner. We are planning another one in June with a bootcamp to set the level higher," Sa-a said.

Aside from fixing the support infrastructure, Sa-a said the academe sector should also be strengthened to synchronize their standards with the international system.

"We will be doing more trainings in other areas soon as a spin-off from the success here. In May we'll be in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and in Bacolod after for more round of trainings," added Sa-a.

Understanding the need of the market Sa-a emphasized is important so that local ICT stakeholders will be able to brace themselves in the free-flow competition. (FREEMAN)