EDITORIAL - Sustaining growth

Business process outsourcing is expected to grow into a $100-billion-a-year industry within 10 years, representing a huge chunk of the global BPO pie, according to Malacañang officials. BPO growth is indeed robust, and English-speaking Filipinos have an edge in this sector over other developing countries. But for that optimistic Malacañang projection to be achieved, the country must do its homework.

Already there are troubling signs that growth in this promising sector could stall. Thousands of BPO jobs cannot be filled for lack of individuals with sufficient English proficiency and other required skills. The government can step in and develop special courses that will provide those skills as quickly as possible. If government resources are inadequate, the private sector and foreign assistance can be tapped.

Language proficiency is not acquired overnight. If the government wants sustained growth in the BPO sector, it should improve English education particularly in public schools, where most of the students do not speak English at home. School training in information and communication technology must be improved, with universal access to the Internet a goal for the near future.

A more ambitious goal is to take advantage of a still largely untapped BPO market that caters to the Spanish-speaking world. About half a billion people speak Spanish, a language that until about a decade ago was a required subject in Philippine high schools and institutions of higher learning. For those interested, Spain’s embassy in Manila has ongoing programs to promote Spanish language proficiency.

BPO companies feed other industries, including food and retail. Attractive salaries in the BPO sector have made many Filipinos decide to remain in their own country instead of finding jobs overseas. But steady growth in this sector will require a steady supply of human resources with the required skills. Other countries are rushing to increase their competitiveness in this sector, and the Philippines cannot afford to be complacent.