Infotech stakeholders seek more incentives
LEADERS of the Philippine information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry are considering providing incentives to boost the sector’s attractiveness.
In a press briefing on Friday, Rey Untal, president and chief executive officer of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), said the organization had begun talking with policymakers on the matter.
We need to “tailor incentives…because right now, [they come]in the form of income-tax reduction,” he added.
“But incentives could come in many other forms, like in some cities, in terms of training and education.”
Antonio del Carmen, president of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), echoed Untal’s remarks, saying the industry must “capitalize on talent assets” through education and training.
“Talent is [the No. 1 thing]that we should push for,” he added.
Del Carmen was also bullish that the sector could maintain its popularity in the region, considering the country’s talent advantage and young population.
“If you look at the literacy level in Asia, we are still higher than them. If you talk about [our]competencies, particularly communications skills, we are better than our neighbors,” he said.
Meanwhile, both organizations and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched the digitalcitiesPH portal. They said it aimed to provide a “comprehensive overview of a city or municipality’s investment landscape, offering strategic insights for current and prospective investors and locators.”
“One of the things that prompted us [to launch this portal is that]it will give our current locators and investors an option to go to the countryside. The Philippine remains to be attractive destination for IT-BPM,” said Jonathan de Luzuriaga, president of the Philippine Software Industry Association.
“[While it] is very important that we remain competitive in terms of incentives, it is also imperative for us to look for other locations,” he added.
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