IBPAP reaffirms commitment to developing more Philippine IT Hubs
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has renewed its pledge to catalyze the expansion of Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) hubs across the country.
Through the Digital Cities 2025 initiative launched in 2020, IBPAP aims to spread IT-BPM investments, jobs, and opportunities to more areas beyond Metro Manila. The program targets to transform 25 high-potential Philippine cities into thriving IT-BPM hubs over the next 3 years.
In an interview with The Freeman, IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Madrid said that 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,” he added.
The trade group also recognizes six Centers of Excellence (COEs) — Metro Manila, Metro Clark, Metro Cebu, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and Davao City — and 7 Next Wave Cities (NWCs) — Baguio City, Cagayan De Oro City, Dasmariñas City, Dumaguete City, Lipa City, Naga City, and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna — that will serve as focal points for global IT-BPM operations.
IBPAP expects these areas to further attract major industry investors and locators.
The organization also projects that Digital Cities can generate over 600,000 jobs in the countryside by 2028, accounting for more than half of the industry’s targeted nationwide growth.
With progress in Digital City roadmaps, IBPAP aims to showcase the immense talent and potential of Filipinos outside Metro Manila. This can motivate more IT-BPM expansion beyond the capital region and boost the Philippines’ image as a top global digital services destination.
