Roxas lashes back at STI

Stung by the critical comments of Systems Technology Institute (STI) president and chief executive officer Chito B. Salazar about the government’s policy promoting call centers as investment area, Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II retaliated by criticizing the quality of students produced by STI.

According to Roxas, only about six percent of Filipinos pass in the Japanese Information Technology Standard Examination (JITSE) for software development.

With such a low number of qualified software developers, Roxas pointed out, "how can we sell software development?"

He clarified that he supports the training of more software developers, but he qualified, "you have to produce what you sell."

He then slammed the students of STI, stating "I wonder how many STI students will pass the JITSE?"

Salazar had earlier criticized government’s policy of promoting call centers more than software development, graphic designing and internet programming.

Salazar likened the call centers to the local garments industry which is now suffering because of stiff competition being offered by other countries which are able to compete with cheaper labor.

Call center operators, just like garments workers, Salazar pointed out, offer very basic service.

Salazar then suggested that government should focus on promoting investments in more value-added information and communications technology skills.

Roxas, however continued to defend call centers arguing that "there is a misguided appreciation of what call centers are."

He stressed that today’s call centers are not merely "directory assistance but sophisticated business outsourcing."