Budget for the upskilling of 340,000 business process outsourcing (BPO) workers annually has been endorsed by President Marcos, a move that would help ensure the country’s global competitiveness as new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are reshaping the workforce.
The budgetary allocation for the improvement of training of BPO workers was proposed by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Sector as the advisory council has strongly called for significant strides in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and workforce development to help the Philippines thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
The upskilling of BPO workers include the near-hire individuals and college students. This initiative is seen as essential to ensuring the country’s global competitiveness as AI continues to revolutionize how work is done in the BPO sector.
Myla Villanueva, PSAC Digital Infrastructure Lead and MDI Group Holdings Inc. Chairperson, emphasized that “this budget allocation will help prepare the workforce for the ongoing AI-driven transformation of the global economy.”
The recent meeting also focused on several key pillars of digital transformation, including the National ID system, digital payments, data governance, and cybersecurity. PSAC urged the government to expedite these initiatives to ensure efficient and accessible public services.
One of the main proposals discussed was the creation of a “Government as a Service” model, which would integrate government agencies through a shared digital system, similar to how apps work together on a smartphone. This system would allow citizens to access services like document applications, permit requests, and fee payments from a single platform.
To make this happen, PSAC recommends that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) take the lead in testing platforms like eGovDX and eGovPay. They also proposed opening data and systems to private developers, encouraging collaboration to improve digital services.
Cybersecurity was another top priority. With growing cyber threats, PSAC called for the urgent passage of the Cybersecurity Bill in Congress. In the interim, the group plans to collaborate with government agencies to assess vulnerabilities and train a new wave of cybersecurity professionals.
“These initiatives are not just for tech experts—they are for all Filipinos,” said Sabin Aboitiz, PSAC Lead Convenor and Aboitiz Group President and CEO. “They are essential to improving government services, securing our digital lives, and creating jobs for the future.”
PSAC reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside government and industry leaders to shape a future-ready digital economy, with the ambition of making the Philippines a global leader in digital services and innovation.
