By Helen M. Flores (The Philippine Star) Updated March 24, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The local information and communications
technology (ICT) industry is expected to contribute as much as $50
billion in annual direct revenues to the economy by 2016, a government
official said.
Alejandro Melchor III, deputy executive director for ICT Industry
Development of the Information and Communications Technology Office
(ICTO), said the Aquino government is highly supportive of the industry
and is looking at investing significantly in programs, policy
development, marketing, research and talent development.
"With government support behind the ICT industry the upside for the
country is tremendous, other than the $50 billion in direct revenues,
they are also projecting $150 billion in indirect investments in the
economy through real estate, transport and telecommunications, banking,
taxes and others," he said.
ICTO is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.
"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," DOST
Secretary Mario Montejo said.
Local ICT stakeholders from the private sector noted 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.
An "ICT Public and Private Partnership or iPPP" initiative was recently
launched to boost the government and private sector collaboration in the
development of the industry.
Early this year, President Aquino issued an executive order which
creates the ICTO, replacing the Commission on Information and
Communications Technology (CICT).
Sen. Edgardo Angara, chair of the Senate committee on science and
technology, said the ICT industry currently provides employment to
600,000 young people in the IT-BPO sector and one and a half million in
indirect jobs.
"We're generating almost $12 billion in foreign exchange and in four
years' time, we see that both employment and revenues could more than
double," Angara said.
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