Digitally ready talent, steady infra

dev’t: Bohol’s advantage - IBPAP

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Bohol’s steady supply of trained, motivated digital ready workforce, and the recognized remarkable progress in setting up a robust digital infrastructure, becomes a star factor in its bid to become not just an emerging destination but a potential Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) hub.

Thus claims Information Technology Business Process Management Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president and chief executive officer Jack Madrid, during the Bohol IT-BPM Forum held at the Capitol’s Ceremonial Hall, July 18.

Madrid, who was keynote speaker during the forum discussed the potential of the $40 billion industry that has employed 1.9 million full time workers, adding that the country’s IT BPM industry is powering global business success through the country’s world-class services offering unequalled quality, scalability and cost efficiency.

Getting the edge as the education sector churns out young, digital-ready workforce built for global business, Bohol’s literacy rating of 94.2% in 2024 in the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey pins Bohol among the top provinces for basic literacy.

With 33 colleges and universities sluicing a skilled pipeline of English proficient graduates, 30% of them in the business administration with string uptake in digital skills, decent artificial intelligence and cloud and data analytics proficiency or are medically trained, Bohol’s talent pool, can not be downplayed, pitched in Bohol Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer (BEDIPO) Maria Fe Dominese, during the forum.

As to infrastructure, she said Bohol is part of the Digital Fiber Network Roll-out of the country’s leading internet service providers with improved connectivity and online access plans laid out.

PLDT covers nearly the entire Bohol with fiber optic connection, Globe getting nearly half of the towns covered and Converge, according to Dominise is covering majority of the towns of Bohol in 2026.

Dominese also shared the presence of 195 communication towers, 52 of which are common towers in 37 towns of Bohol, an inland power generation capacity of 132 megawatts aside from the redundant connection from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines via 120 KV interconnection from Leyte on the east and 230 KV via the Cebu Interconnection from the west.

And while Madrid stressed the investors’ preference to areas where the cost of doing business is competitive, minimum wage, even power and water rates in Bohol are relatively lower compared to other regions, the investment promotions officer pointed out.

At the forum, Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado showcased Bohol’s powerful combination of growing and dedicated talent pool nurtured by string academic linkages, steadily improving digital infrastructure and proactive support from the government, to hammer in the message of continued collaboration to promote investment and business opportunities in the province.

He also shared the preparation of a master plan to covert the old Tagbilaran City Airport into Bohol Business Park as an ideal environment for establishing or expanding BPO operations.

Already hosting Ibex, Genpact, Task US and Sagility as its major business process outsourcing locators employing about 5000 workers and another estimated 20,000 freelancers, Bohol is now boasting of workers in data analysis, computer software development, BPO services, virtual assistance, digital marketing, network data solutions and graphic designs.

In choosing Bohol as their next location, Genpact VP for Infra and logistics said Bohol’s rich talent pool, available infrastructure, ease of doing business and well established tourism ecosystem gives the province its immense potential for IT-BPM growth.

On the other hand, Sagility site leader Roberto Wade Fajardo pointed out Bohol’s natural tourist attractions and relatively lower operational costs in labor and real estate is a strong stimulus for companies seeking to expand their operations, and the continued government initiatives at providing incentives and support to investors boosts its promotion and growth of its ICT and BPO.

IBPAP however hinted that setting up the venue for locators can be tricky as it is usually the local investors who have to bankroll it first, before the investors come. (PIABohol)

CRITICAL INDUSTRY COLLABORATION. Pinning Bohol into the country’s IT-BPM hub could be tricky, and industry collaboration to address the curriculum and industry mismatch, improve hands-on exposure to tools, career awareness and connectivity and device access have to be fixed first, before the capital comes in. (PIABohol)