THE local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry has the opportunity to contribute around $50 billion in annual direct revenues to the Philippine economy by 2016. This was revealed in an ICT Industry Stakeholders Consultation Workshop organized and conducted by the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Icto).
The government is highly supportive of the industry, and is looking at investing significantly in programs, policy development, marketing, research and talent development, according to Alejandro Melchor III, deputy executive director for ICT Industry Development of DOST-Icto. “With government support behind the ICT industry the upside for the country is tremendous, other than the $50 billion in direct revenues, we are also projecting $150 billion in indirect investments in the economy, through real estate, transport and telecommunications, banking, taxes and others,” he said.
Industry leaders from various ICT industry associations were present at the workshop, contributing ideas and brainstorming next steps to meet targets set during the event.
Among those in attendance were representatives from the Information Technology Association of the Philippines, Philippine Software Industry Alliance, Philippine Computer Society, Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines, Philippine Electronics and Telecommunications Federation, Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators, Animation Council of the Philippines, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators, Computer Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).
This is the first time that industry associations and stakeholders from a broad section of the ICT industry were gathered with the objective of planning and mapping out strategies for the industry after consultations for the development of the Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) in 2010.
Science Secretary Mario Montejo confirmed the government’s support for the industry by saying that, “The ICT industry is fueled by the country’s most valuable resource, its people. The government is investing in the Filipino through investments in science and technology-oriented training and education.”
Participants at the workshop were in agreement that the industry needs support from the government in six key areas, namely talent development, domestic ICT development, countryside industry development, advancement of ICT-enabled creative industries, ICT marketing and research, as well as expansion into high-value markets.
Industry representatives were enthused with the support they are getting from the current administration and are looking forward to meeting the targets set at the workshop. Benedict Hernandez of BPAP said, “We are grateful for the encouragement and support the government is providing the industry, collaborating with other industry associations in this forum has given us a renewed perspective that the industry is unified in achieving new heights in revenue and overall support of the economy.” A new term called ICT Public and Private Partnerhip, or iPPP, was coined during the forum to represent the current setting of government and private sector collaboration.
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By: Dennis Estopace
Source: Business Mirror, March 24, 2012
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