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Saturday, June 25, 2005
IBM Phils. makes Cebu pilot area for program to develop workforce
IBM Philippines has chosen Cebu to be the pilot area for its proposed workforce development program for the country.
“It’s going to be a multi-sectoral project. We will work with different sectors from the business community, academe, government and others in putting the plan together,” said IBM Philippines president and general manager Joaquin Quintos IV in a press conference last Thursday at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Quintos said IBM and the Cebu government have not yet come to a final agreement on the industries that the project should address.
However, he said that with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the provincial government and other sectors promoting the information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism industries, there is a need to prepare and match Cebu’s workforce with what will be required to meet the demands of industry.
“Innovation is a constant need in a very competitive environment,” he said.
Global outlook
IBM presented to the media its Global Innovation Outlook (GIO), a summary of the discussions that took place last year among IBM’s senior technical and business experts and representatives from 100 companies and institutions from 24 countries.
Quintos said workforce development is needed in the Philippines.
The workforce development strategy will address the key areas identified by GIO as important issues for every company or country to survive. The areas are health care, government and the citizen, and the integration of work and life.
End to end
“It’s a complete end-to-end strategy that can be applied to any industry. It’s not just about training but also about government policies, direction, standards and other areas that affect the workforce,” said Erik Tabuena, country leader-Philippines of IBM business consulting services.
“Demands for skills change. Workforce development will help people get equipped and prepared for whatever work they get into, and take advantage of the opportunities, like in ICT or tourism in Cebu City,” he said.
In a resolution, the Province of Cebu recently thanked IBM Philippines for having “extended its arm for the development of the information and communications technology (ICT) workforce” in the province.
It also cited IBM’s role in a “study on the immediate need to be done by Cebu to strengthen and develop the workforce supply for ICT so that its workforce will be kept updated with the latest work trends.”
The Cebu provincial government donated P1 million to fund the Cebu ICT 2005 international conference and exhibition that took place last June 22-24 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. (ALC)
(June 25, 2005 issue)
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