PEZA and IBPAP partner to draw IT-BPM investment, build AI skills
- PEZA and IBPAP signed an MOU on Nov. 5 to attract IT-BPM investment.
- The PEZA-IBPAP partnership aims to expand IT-BPM investment opportunities outside Metro Manila.
- PEZA’s Advanced AI Tech Academy will support IT-BPM workforce upskilling.
- IBPAP forecasts 2026 industry revenue of $42.3 billion and 1.94 million jobs.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) have agreed to work together to bring more investment into the country’s information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector. The partnership also covers talent development and readiness for artificial intelligence (AI).
PEZA director general Tereso Panga and IBPAP president Celeste Ilagan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Nov. 5 to formalize the partnership.
Investor support beyond Metro Manila
Under the MOU, the two will strengthen their collaboration to encourage and facilitate investment entry into the Philippines, The Philippine Star reported on Nov. 9. They will also step up support for investors and coordinate on policy to strengthen the country’s position as a leading IT-BPM destination.
Briefings and technical consultations will address investor concerns, improve the business environment and expand IT-BPM investment opportunities outside Metro Manila. PEZA has already been pitching regions such as Bicol to IT-BPM investors, as we reported in October.
“By combining PEZA’s investment facilitation capabilities with IBPAP’s industry expertise and extensive network, we can strengthen investor confidence, encourage new investments and reinvestments and sustain the country’s competitiveness in the global IT-BPM market,” Panga said.
AI academy for upskilling
The two will use PEZA’s Advanced AI Tech Academy to support workforce upskilling. The aim is to prepare workers to provide AI-enabled and higher-value services as industry demand changes.
IBPAP is the umbrella organization for the Philippine IT-BPM industry and represents more than 400 member companies.
Industry targets
At the International IT-BPM Summit in September, IBPAP forecast industry revenue of $42.3 billion and employment of 1.94 million in 2026, rising to $45 billion and 1.99 million in 2027, Context.ph reported. Industry revenue topped $40 billion in 2025, when employment reached 1.89 million.
Its roadmap targets up to $50.5 billion in revenue and 2.14 million jobs by 2028, as we reported in September.
What it means for buyers
Closer work between the country’s investment promotion agency and its main industry group could make it easier for providers to open or expand sites, including outside the capital. The upskilling push also signals that Philippine providers will put more weight on AI-enabled and higher-value services.
Companies weighing business process outsourcing (BPO) or information technology outsourcing (ITO) in the country can compare providers on OA’s list of the top 40 BPO companies in the Philippines.
Related news
- IBPAP’s Celeste Ilagan: Is the Philippine BPO industry dying? · 7 Nov 2026
- Philippines lifts Metro Manila IT ecozone moratorium · 1 Aug 2026
- Philippine IT-BPM targets $42Bn in revenue, 1.97Mn jobs for 2026 · 24 Jun 2026
Disclosure: Outsource Accelerator uses AI tools in the backend of its editorial workflow. Every article is reviewed and verified by a human editor before publication.
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