Philippine trade chief calls for more public-private IT-BPM partnerships

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Alfredo Pascual, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, has advocated for enhanced public-private collaborations to support the continued expansion of the Philippine Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector.
During the International IT-BPM Summit, Pascual underscored the sector’s significant role in integrating emerging Industry 4.0 technologies, including AI and cloud computing.
He highlighted the importance of partnerships with governmental bodies, academic institutions, and industry experts to spur innovation.
The secretary also revealed that a five-year national development program for the sector focusing on workforce upskilling and marketing support will soon be signed.
Under the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, the Philippine IT-BPM sector is targeted to generate over 2 million direct and indirect jobs and P2 trillion (US$35 billion) in annual revenue by 2028.
Government incentives, such as income tax breaks, are on the table to attract investments and enhance the global competitiveness of the Filipino workforce.
The annual IT-BPM Summit organized by the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines provides insights to stakeholders on advancements and issues facing the industry.