CEBU, Philippines – Speaking at the Contact Islands Philippines conference last week, Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) addressed several key issues facing the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in the country. Her speeches were replete with insights into digital cities, cybersecurity, and the future of work in the Philippines.

Building Digital Cities

Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue underscored the necessity of a scientific approach to job creation in the countryside. She argued that mere guesswork wouldn’t suffice, and stressed the need for creating metrics and a scorecard to assess the potential of locations outside of Metro Manila for ICT industry development.

“We need to create a metric, we need to create a scorecard to ensure that our locations outside of Metro Manila can become locations of choice by the ICT industries,” she said. The Undersecretary pointed out the four key metrics developed through the Next Wave Cities program: talent development (40%), business environment (30%), infrastructure (20%), and cost of doing business (10%).

Batapa-Sigue proudly mentioned that the Digital Cities Program, with its digital roadmaps, focuses on identifying locations ripe for digital development and ICT job generation.

Sigue highlighted the need to move beyond guesswork and employ a metric-based approach for job creation outside of Metro Manila, and emphasized the role of talent development, stating, “the main attraction for any investor is really talent.” She recognized the importance of a conducive business environment fostered by local government units and ICT councils. She also pointed out the significance of infrastructure, urging telecommunications companies to ensure connectivity regardless of location.

Detailing the expansion of the Next Wave Cities program, Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue mentioned the creation of Tier 3 cities or “Digital Cities” before the COVID-19 pandemic. The program identified 25 Digital Cities, expanding to 31 local government units. The DICT has finished nearly 18 comprehensive digital roadmaps, serving as guides for IT-BPO companies interested in exploring these digital cities. The program has gained international acclaim for its success in driving digital jobs to cities outside of Metro Manila.

Cybersecurity and the BPO Industry

In the context of cybercrime and theft in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue candidly acknowledged the issues faced. She noted the unique challenges in aligning industry and government perspectives, particularly in policy implementation and changes, and emphasized the need for stronger industry unification and position papers to drive policy amendments. She acknowledged the disconnect between local and national government processes, stressing the need for a united industry front and a clear position paper to influence policy changes.

She also highlighted the significant difference in response times between local and national governments. “When you tell us to change our policy, our ordinance on traffic so that cars go around your locations, we do that in a month. But that’s going to take years in the national government,” she admitted. Hence, the undersecretary recommended for the industry to also work very closely with the local government units and ICT councils.

The Undersecretary also proposed that companies creatively think of legal ways to pursue employees engaging in theft, and encouraged tapping into local government support.

In terms of policy discussion, Batapa-Sigue stressed the importance of taking stakeholders’ needs into consideration before policy creation. She further emphasized that policies should be designed to support growth, not hamper it.

Advocating for Work from Home

On the work from home trend, Batapa-Sigue noted that the concept isn’t new, being a management and corporate decision made years before COVID-19 – that can lead to increased productivity. She asserted that industries need the freedom to decide how to grow their sectors and expressed her hope that policy-makers wouldn’t look for legal basis to limit it since it is already a global practice. She urged policymakers to recognize the industry’s need for such flexibility.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue urged the audience to capitalize on the industry’s recognition in the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) and to use it as leverage in achieving their goals and suggesting that a written declaration outlining the industry’s needs and goals should be submitted to the President. She emphasized the industry’s unique position, saying, “You are contributing 8% of the GDP.”

Lastly, Batapa-Sigue encouraged collaboration between the ITBPM industry and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC), stating that they have finished the national cyber security plan and are ready to assist.

“Strike while the iron is hot,” the Undersecretary said, motivating everyone to step up and make a difference in the industry.

Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue highlighted the job creation potential of the IT BPM industry and the transformative power it holds for cities and provinces, changing the economic landscape and providing a better life for many Filipinos. She concluded with a heartfelt salute to the attendees, thanking them for their role as job creators.