The local information technology and business process outsourcing industry is optimistic about the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, saying the new government’s 10-point economic agenda is aligned with the sector.
“We don’t anticipate anything that is broadly different. There’s so many parts of the 10-point economic agenda [of the new government] that we are very aligned,” said Benedict Hernandez, chairman of the executive committee of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines during the opening of Affinion’s new office in Taguig.
“So far its been good. I don’t think there’s going to be big surprises or changes. We’ve meet many new government secretaries and they are very open, collaborative and very supportive. We are feeling comfortable about the transition,” he added.
Hernandez said the industry was “bullish” about meeting its revenue and employee targets under its “Road Map 2016.”
The IT-BPO ainms to achieve $25 billion in revenues this year, contributing about 7 percent to 7.5 percent to the country’s economy. The sector is also set to meet the 1.3 million direct employment this year.
“We are also successful in diversifying the industry and its business over the years. I think 10 years ago there’s a lot of clients coming from North America but it’s now being distributed. We have a lot of growth in Asia, Europe, but US is still a majority market,” Hernandez said.
He said the industry was successful in driving multiple locations across the country. The four non-Metro Manila cities that are mature locations are Bacolod, Metro Clark, Davao and Cebu.
Hernandez said the industry also expected a higher growth from back office and healthcare information management this year.
“Of course, we continue to see growth in IT and engineering services. We continue to see good growth in animation and gaming development and some special skills that keeps emerging in the Philippines like legal process outsourcing and market services,” Hernandez said.
He said the industry was in the middle of drafting a six-year roadmap for the sector, or from 2017 to 2022.
“We are working with Frost & Sullivan for the current roadmap. The official unveiling is on October 25. It would include what’s the game plan for the Philippines’ IT-BPO in the next six years,” he said.
