By now everyone has extended their congratulations to both Davao City and Iloilo City for being elevated from Next Wave Cities (NWCs) to Centers of Excellence. They stand at par with Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Clark and Bacolod City as premier information technology and business-process management (IT-BPM) hosts and high-density locations.
The NWCs program spurred development not only for the IT-BPM sector but also for cities outside established IT-BPM hubs. The NWCs are communities that are ideal hosts for the IT-BPM industry, they are for 2016: Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro City, Dagupan City, Dasmariñas City, Dumaguete City, Lipa City, Malolos City, Naga City, Santa Rosa City in Laguna and Taytay in Rizal.
Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim of the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO) noted the improvement in the readiness of NWCs to host IT-BPM operations, allowing the spread of economic benefits of this industry to key cities and provinces, where capable talents are abundant.
Recognition was also given to 10 New Emerging Cities (NEC) as they could greatly gain economic benefit if they enable the efficient operations of IT-BPM companies in their community. The top 10 NEC are Balanga City, Batangas City, Iriga City, Laoag City, Legazpi City, Puerto Princesa City, Roxas City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao City and Zamboanga City. They are cities that are composed of communities and barangays where educated professionals live and dream of building a future for themselves and their family.
There has been tremendous growth in the industry and the career opportunities are remarkable. Figuratively, New Emerging Cities are at the starting line and they are being ranked based on talent, infrastructure, cost and business environment, factors in evaluating a city’s ability to enable and support the entry and growth of IT-BPM companies in its area.
To move forward a collaborative effort is required to help these NEC develop into NWCs and, eventually, Centers of Excellence. This is only feasible with the support of the city’s local government unit, provincial or city chamber of commerce, educational institutions found in their communities, their respective information and communications technology (ICT) councils led by the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, together with the national government and its different departments, such as the departments of Trade and Industry, Education and Foreign Affairs; Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, DOST-ICTO, National Economic and Development Authority and Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which are just a few of the key players that come to mind.
There are over a million Filipinos directly employed by the IT-BPM industry. There are also many more Filipinos who are part of the government, and other industries working and making it possible for communities to embrace the IT-BPM industry as it sees sustained growth and moves to provinces inspiring development not only in key cities, but in emerging locations, as well.
To all national and local officials who will get a fresh mandate from the electorate in May, it is hoped that they will appreciate the $25-billion revenues and the 1.3 million directly employed by the IT-BPM industry at the end of 2016. This way, they will also feel the hearts of the 3.2 million Filipinos indirectly employed by the industry, and the employees in government and non-governmental organizations who invested a lot to help these Filipinos gain skills to qualify for a career that will help them obtain a better quality of life for their respective families and communities. I pray they see the beating hearts that can be found in the IT-BPM industry.