IBPAP reiterates promise to help develop IT hubs

CEBU, Philippines — The IT-BPM industry, through its trade body and advocacy group, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), has renewed its commitment to working closely with the government and partners in the private sector to establish and further develop IT-BPM hubs throughout the country.

Although this has been done by IBPAP over the years, IBPAP president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jack Madrid said the industry will strengthen its collaboration with the government, as well as other private sector players to push for rapid growth in outsourcing especially in the identified hubs in the Philippines.

These hubs serve as important focal points in powering global operations. In fact, IBPAP has already recognized six Centers of Excellence or COEs (Metro Manila, Metro Clark, Metro Cebu, Bacolod City, Iloilo City and Davao City) and seven Next Wave Cities or NWCs (Baguio City, Cagayan De Oro City, Dasmariñas City, Dumaguete City, Lipa City, Naga City and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna).

COEs are locations that have proven their capabilities in attracting and hosting major investors that include multinational companies and global brands, while NWCs are locations that are well- positioned to support IT-BPM operations.

To aid in the sustained growth of the IT-BPM industry, IBPAP, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) launched Digital Cities 2025 in 2020 to drive inclusive growth in the countryside by selecting high-potential areas throughout the country and transforming them into bustling IT-BPM hubs.

Three out of the 25 identified Digital Cities are here in Visayas: Roxas City, Tacloban City and Tagbilaran City.

With IBPAP eyeing around 600,000 new jobs for the countryside, which is more than half of the projected nationwide growth by 2028, there is immense potential to add onto the 310,000 full-time employees (FTEs) currently employed by the IT-BPM sector in the region.

“Some of the 25 Digital Cities have successfully completed their respective roadmaps, while others are still ongoing. The overarching goal of the roadmaps is for the cities to become prominent and bustling IT-BPM hubs, similar to what happened with Cebu, Clark, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao City,” Madrid told The Freeman.

By expanding into the countryside, the IT-BPM industry is driving the growth of other sectors like telecommunications, retail, transportation, and the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) industry. IT-BPM is also propelling the demand for better infrastructure, creating opportunities for highly skilled, diverse, and well-educated Filipinos outside Metro Manila, as well as empowering flexibility in hybrid and innovative work setups.

The hybrid and remote work arrangement, after starting out as a measure in response to pandemic-related lockdowns, has since become a “game-changer” for the industry and enabled the IT-BPM industry to accelerate and sustain growth in the countryside.

According to Madrid, IBPAP even touted it for bringing in a new era of work for the industry, reinforcing its resilience and position as an important pillar of Philippine economy.

“There is a sense of national pride in working in the IT-BPM industry,” noted Madrid adding that the group is at the forefront advancing inclusive development in the Philippines “while doing globally impactful and meaningful work.”

Last September, IBPAP unveiled the new Philippine IT-BPM industry branding, “We are with the Philippines” during the 15th International IT-BPM Summit to build industry pride, attract talent, and entice more investors to the country.

IBPAP is the primary trade body and advocacy group of the country’s agile, dynamic, and resilient IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector.

With over 300 members and six partner associations—the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), Global In-House Center Council (GICC) Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP), and the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA)—IBPAP plays a crucial role in sustaining the growth of the IT-BPM industry by working with stakeholders in the government and academe to ensure an enduring supply of high-quality labor, support service innovation, and provide country visibility.