More Infra Needed as BPO Workers Rises to 1.7 Million Workers by End of 2023

The business process outsourcing in the Philippines employed a total of 1.7 million workers and generated revenues worth at least 35 billion USD at the end of 2023, according to a report.

But for the local industry not to get left behind by other countries, stakeholders want continued investment in infrastructure, real estate, reliable internet, and stable baseload power.

These are requisites needed to realize the “Roadmap 2028 Vision” of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

IBPAP’s president Jack Madrid, was quoted in the report stating that they are “on track to reach two million jobs by 2025.”

The “roadmap” also indicated the importance that these investments should not be focused not only in Metro Manila but on a nationwide scale, particularly in designated Centers of Excellence, Next Wave Cities, and Digital Cities where expansion is projected.

The Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) aims to achieve a revenue of $59 billion and a total of 2.5 million full-time employees by 2028.

Additionally, it targets 54 percent of its growth to be driven by activities in rural areas in the Philippines.

In addition to real estate, industry stakeholders also advocate for increased investments in road and rail connectivity, as well as more air connections, noting that these infrastructures are vital for facilitating seamless operations and logistics.

Given the increasing number of businesses adopting a hybrid working model, the roadmap emphasizes the significance of reliable and affordable network connectivity in residential areas.

A consistent and reliable power supply is also crucial for uninterrupted operations.

IBPAP highlights that IT-BPM firms have comprehensive business continuity plans (BCP) in place, especially during power outages and other natural or man-made crises.

For instance, if there is a power outage in one area or province, alternate sites are ready to take on the operational load of the affected area. This strategy minimizes the impact on daily operations and ensures continuity of service, which is crucial in the IT-BPM industry.

In Cebu, various business groups and even Gov Gwen Garcia are pushing for more self-sufficiency and reliability of power supply to avoid the massive blackouts that happened in Panay Island earlier this year from happening in Cebu. (ZAG)