BPO industry needs more ICT graduates

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - With the Philippine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry growing by 30 to 35 percent annually and a projection of 1 million jobs generated by 2010, key players in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and academe are pushing for a comprehensive and sustainable training program that will develop Mindanao's human resources on information, communication technology (ICT.

"We need to let the public know the positive economic impact the BPO sector has already gained, and the untapped opportunities that the ICT industry has to offer particularly in creating more jobs and ICT-related businesses," said Wit Holganza, president of the ICT Davao, Inc. during the first ever BPO Human Resource and Recruitment Forum held last September 29.

She said the forum, which gathered BPO experts and HR practitioners from local schools and training institutions, is a good start to prepare the human resource pool to acquire skills that will serve the requirements of the BPO industry players.

The supply of qualified ICT-skilled workers is an increasing concern, as the industry needs more ICT graduates with the ICT industry poised for upbeat growth in the next years.

Ditas Formoso, head of the Technical Committee on Government Academe Industry Linkage (TC-Gail) said that the talent pool is growing at a rate of only 10 percent while the industry grows 30-35 percent annually.

In her presentation, she explained that faculty development, industry immersion for students, appropriate school infrastructure and industry-based curricula are factors that make up a talent pool required by the industry.

The TC-Gail will embark on advocacy and awareness programs to gain industry, academe and local
government support for the faculty immersion programs they will be pilot testing.

She also encouraged academic institutions to participate, as this will benefit both graduates and faculty.

Jamea Garcia, Talent Development Director of the Business Processing Association of the
Philippines (BPAP) said in her presentation that the supply of talent would determine the level of growth the industry will experience.

She said that a comprehensive assessment and training program must be developed to help improve suitability of talent for the industry.

In a recent article, she said investing in training of human resources is a challenge for stakeholders "in order to supply the quality of talent which will also propel improvements in the industry."

She said aside from generating 1 million jobs by 2010, it is also projected to generate 1.2 to 1.3 million indirect jobs.

The forum was organized by the ICT Davao, an umbrella organization of different ICT industry associations. The group is planning to develop a databank, which will determine Davao's human resources pool and its capacity to respond to the needs of prospective locators.

The three-day forum also matched teachers and guidance counselors of schools with HR and recruitment staff of BPO companies on a two-day job fair to allow schools firsthand experience in human resource and recruitment processes which can become a benchmark for schools in improving their curriculum particularly in English proficiency and other ICT-related skills.

A career employment track was organized to focus on career opportunities in the different BPO fields, which include the contact center, medical transcription, and graphics and animation.

On the other hand, the technopreneurship track oriented the participants of opportunities in engaging in ICT start-up businesses.

The Davao Business Plan Competition was also launched during the forum to encourage young ICT entrepreneurs to submit business start-up proposals. - Sun Star

Mindanao Transcription Players Meet With MTIAPI President Myla Reyes

MTIAPI and Mindanao's transcription education and service organizations in a round table discussion of challenges and opportunities last April 11, 2008 at MEDCo offices

Mindanao’s transcription players welcomed MTIAPI president, Myla Reyes and Executive Director, Raymund Eruma in a first-ever Mindanao-wide effort to gather issues and challenges faced by both medical transcription educational organizations and service organizations. Representatives from the cities of Butuan, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and Tacurong listened intently as Ms. Reyes presented key industry trends and developments. The optimistic forecast of growth for the transcription industry provided hope for Mindanao’s SMITEs who seek to become competitive players in the global arena.

“MTIAPI hopes to establish stronger branding, front-end awareness, and linkages with relevant international associations, as well as find partners and open up more business opportunities for our local MT companies. Furthermore, the Philippines is heavily promoting its medical transcription capabilities to the United States in a bid to raise its market share,” according to Myla Rose Mundo-Reyes, president of the Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines (MTIAPI).

It was heartening to note that TADI (Transcription Alliance of Davao, Inc) shares MTIAPI’s desire to strengthen the advocacy for uplifting the quality and image of the MT career professional. Noteworthy suggestions also came from Cagayan de Oro to create forums where career professionals can generate leads and exchange best practices. Ms. Reyes cautioned though that any participant to these fora must practice responsible communication as perceptions of our foreign counterparts are strongly influenced by these exchanges. A majority of the players believed that the MT education platform must include values formation and other soft skills building programs.

With the growing shortage of medical transcription personnel in the US coupled with the increasing older population of Americans, the consistent offshore capabilities of the Philippines can propel us to become a dominant player in the future. And as the cost of doing business becomes more attractive in the provincial hubs, it makes more sense to explore the capabilities of Mindanao’s transcription sector.

(Published with permission from TADI President)

6th MICT Congress

6th MICT Congress

What would you want to do or suggest to improve our very own ICT? Or should I say, what do we need to do so that Davao will be known and that "Silicon Gulf" phrase would be used?

Post your Answers or Suggestions.

Want to know more of the 6th MICT? Click here.

MTC Academy Davao Joins Kadayawan

MTC Academy Davao's students & staff joined the Kadayawan 2007 floral float competition with the aim of showcasing the largest medical transcription school in the Philippines during the celebrations. The aim is to promote medical transcription as an industry and to contribute in the success of the festival.

This year's theme "Lumadnong Kagikan, Mabungahong Kinaiya­han, Gasa sa Kahitas-an", represents Davaoeños fruitful years and rewarding opportunities. This includes the development of the IT industry and the rising opportunities particularly in medical transcription.



We would like to thank all our sponsors, students, and staff who have given their support for the success of the floral float. A job well done to the students and staff who lent a hand in decorating from the night of August 18 till the early morning of August 19. And of course, a big shout out to the students & staff who were not able to sleep the night before and yet volunteered to walk with the float during the parade.

Congratulations MTC Academy students and staff for winning the 4th place!!! Not bad for a first timer.

Garage Sale: Finders Keepers

MTC Academy Davao will be having their first Garage Sale on July 14, Saturday. We're inviting you to visit us at E. Quirino Ave., fronting Tower Inn. Clothes, accessories, books, food and a lot more will be sold at LOW LOW LOW prices.

For more info, please call 222-6822 and look for CHATTEE.