THE Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has recognized the need for Negros Occidental to prioritize the development of its professional manpower pool to make information and technology-business process management (IT-BPM) as its focus industry.
EMB Division Chief Maria Teresa Loring, at the sidelines of the Capacity Building Seminar for IT-BMP Services at Business Inn Hotel in Bacolod City on December 12, said there is a need to capacitate local exporters, both of products and services, to be more competitive in the global market.
She said that in terms of exporting IT-BPM and other related services, Negros Occidental, especially Bacolod City, has the potential since it is among the country's next wave cities.
"IT-BPM firms here have supportive association, the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT). The strong involvement of the private sector has allowed them to start promoting their products and services like game and animation outside," Loring said, adding that there is, however, a need to harness the potentials.
The EMB official said the local industry must understand that once it has already penetrated the market, it would then have a demand thus, development of professionals and other workforce should be sustained.
In running an export business, competitiveness and innovation are major components to consider, she added.
Loring said local-based exporters should be ready to know the trend. Being technology-based is not enough, they should do more research and subject themselves to development endeavors to be always updated, she added.
Part of the DTI's measures to boost local exporters, especially of IT-BPM related services, is intensifying the implementation of its Regional Interactive Platform for the Philippines (Ripples) Plus program.
The initiative is aimed at providing local exporters more information sessions to capacitate and equip them with better understanding on how the government can support in enhancing their competitiveness amid the growing global market.
Attended by at least 60 exporters and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Negros Occidental, the activity on December 12 was the first Ripples Plus capacity building information session for IT-BPM sector conducted by DTI in the province.
Loring said the government recognizes the need to support local enterprises to really become part of the global value chain and generate revenues, not only for themselves, but also for the country.
"Trade and services as information are not yet so common especially in the regional and provincial levels," Loring said, adding that "we want to reach out to these people to have a better understanding of how they can make use of the information because this is the trend now."
DTI-EMB records showed there are currently about 200 IT-enabled companies nationwide covered by the Ripples Plus program. None of these companies are from Negros Occidental.
"We have enrollees here but not in IT, only in the food sector. Thus, through this session we can be able to gather more enterprises to be part of the program," Loring added.