ICT Opportunities in the Philippines…also for Fil-Ams

The Philippines today has reached global recognition inGatherings such as the December Fil-Am summit
the "back office" service provisioning such asallowed me to inform our kababayans about the ICT
"Business Process Outsourcing" (BPO) of IT enabledopportunities that await them. Filipino Americans who
services.have long stayed abroad have now disposable
Third party expatriates who have first handincomes, which they can invest wisely into "services
knowledge and experience of doing business in theexporting" initiatives which has tremendous rippling
Philippines as compared with other outsourcingeffect to our country and people if maximized to its
destinations attest to this. Expats observe that doingfullest.
business in the Philippines is very positive andTwo incentives await Filipino Americans who decide to
encouraging. This acknowledgment needs to bego into ICT opportunities in the country.
brought forward to the attention and awareness ofThe first is by just providing "market lead" referrals, of
our Global Filipinos abroad.potential back office requirements of US companies.
Last December 13th-15th 2006, the Philippines USAFil-Ams will receive a "finder's fee" out of any
Business Club (PUBC) of the Philippine Chamber ofoutsourcing contract signed out of the referral. This
Commerce and Industry (PCCI) participated in thestrategy is a good step for replicating potential
100th Centennial Celebration of Filipinos in Hawaii. It waslong-term business continuity for those who are
a great opportunity to share the good news to Filipinoconvinced about the prospects of services exporting.
Americans in the US attending the summit about theThe second incentive is they can enter into "joint
positive news US CEOs have been experiencing inventure" agreement or invest with Local Filipino
doing BPO services in the country.businessmen who have decided to enter into the
As Chairman of the Committee on ICT of the"back office" services. By entering into a Joint Venture
Philippines USA Business Club (PUBC) - I would like toAgreement, co-investing with local businessmen are
bring the news to the summit and share with them theassured of potential long-term market coming their
favorable responses of US companies so that theyway, as Fil-Ams will act as their guarantor in sustaining
will know how good we Filipinos are "world class" andthe viability of the Joint Venture. Besides it encourages
globally acknowledged. All praises!synergy for overseas Filipinos helping their local
The PCCI ICT Domestic Strategy - is to report to thekababayans in doing business in the country.
local businessmen about the prospects of entering intoThe event last year was just a first step towards
the "services exporting" business, as an alternative tonetworking with our Filipino Americans in the US.
the waning traditional exports business, which are nowWe hope to do a 10 major city caravan in the US by
moving to China. This allows them to invest in a2007 and the years to come. What we need to do
lucrative and promising industry, which is providingmore is to perk up the awareness level, do extensive
"back office" support services to US companies willingdissemination information promotions campaign to all
to outsourcetheir services to the Philippines.the forty three (43) Filipino American Chambers of
But the common issue that crops amongst localCommerce in the US.
businessmen is their inability to penetrate the USAs of this writing, the PCCI/PUBC initiatives have
market where 50 percent of the global outsourcedsuccessfully conducted business opportunities with the
services comes from.Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Yes, marketing is a key ingredient to the success of(PACCH), The Philippine American Chamber of
our BPO to our local businessmen. Filipinos areCommerce of Oregon (PACCO), which just had a
perceived weak in marketing. We need to strengthensuccessful trade mission to the Philippines last Feb
our promotions and marketing to the US market.17-22 2007.
Tapping the rich networking potentials of our FilipinoDiscussions are ongoing with the Philippine American
Americans who are by now in the middleChamber of Commerce of Chicago (PACCO), Dallas,
management or decision level of most US companiesTexas, Orange County California, Denver Colorado,
can also facilitate in the marketingefforts.Orlando Florida and Las Vegas Nevada. The PCCI
Hence, the PCCI ICT -International Strategy -- tothrough PUBC hopes to continue its networking
communicate, convey and express the positive newsbusiness discussions with other Filipino American
to all Filipino Americans living in the US about theChambers of Commerce within the US.
prospects of the Philippines being the number 1At the end of the day, Filipino Americans are now
outsourcing destination in the world. India is "king" inactively involved in trade and business activities
outsourcing today because of the successfultowards helping the mother land, local Filipinos
networking and marketing that they did in the US. Wetransformed to think as entrepreneurs "more jobs are
Filipinos can unite and increaseour business activities,created", Filipinos having strong purchasing power,
eventually making us the number 1 outsourcingencouraging them to stay more in-country thus
destination in no time.addressing the alarming brain drain syndrome. It's a
Our friends from India are threatened by this potentialwin-win strategy for all of us. - George C.
phenomenon.