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DECIMATED by foreign consultants and prejudice against
Filipino expertise, the Confederation of Filipino
Consulting Organizations Inc. (Cofilco) is solidifying
its database and network to allow the natural growth of
its industry and regain government accreditation.
“We’ve
dropped the thought that government would give us back
the accreditation on a silver platter. We’re going back
to our customers and members; to the level we were in
before —the reasons why we were given that mandate in
the first place by government,” Cofilco president
Antonio Navarro told the BusinessMirror.
Navarro
admitted that after the Government Procurement Policy
Board (GPPB) did not renew its recognition of Cofilco as
the umbrella organization of consultants, the group
suffered growth pains.
“The
GPBB recognition came at a time when the local
consulting industry wasn’t ready yet organizationally
while money in terms of ODA and loans were pouring in.
They [government] were asking for a nationwide presence
from us when we were still concentrated in Metro Manila
and were a semi-loose organization.”
Being
the biggest federation of consulting firms (200) with an
aggregate membership of 300 individual professional
consultants, Cofilco in 2004 was tapped for a year for
government projects.
The
resolution followed the Philippine government’s
predilection for Filipino consultants for
foreign-assisted projects. “Despite that preference, our
members still encountered difficulties,” Navarro
recalled.
He cited
the absence of local consultants’ representations in
meetings after a government-to-government project has
been approved. “Also, why give foreign consultants
higher fees? Because shortchanging Filipino consultants
is okay?”
Navarro
admits Cofilco has been sidetracked with the focus on
regaining government accreditation.
“We’re
now looking at proving that we have that muscle.”
He said
the group is finalizing the list of Filipino consultants
nationwide “to have a good overview of the industry,”
and expanding to urban centers outside Metro Manila.
Navarro
said 20 percent of their membership expansion would come
from Davao City.
Navarro
believes that as long as there are projects requiring
highly technical skills and expertise, the consulting
industry will grow. “Our country has the best minds.
We’ve proven that with the number of highly skilled
Filipino consultants in projects overseas. We just need
to organize; there’s no other way.” |
