Filipino engineers to see strides in ICT, electronics, engineering sectors in 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The growth prospects for the Philippines is expected to go on an upward trend with the gradual increase in demand for electronics and engineering products and services for a global market.

This is coupled by increased spending for ICT products and services in the Philippines due in part to investments made through public-private partnerships (PPP).

Global ICT spending globally is expected to surge 8.7 percent, according to a report by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Much of this growth would be from the Asia-Pacific region, which is expecting a 9.5 percent growth rate in ICT spending until 2013.

Likewise, ICT spending in the Philippines, according to the International Data Corp. (IDC) could increase to 9.1 percent in 2011, up from 7.6 percent in 2010 that resulted in $3.14 billion in ICT spending. PPP projects, which range from road and highway infrastructure developments, building new airports and shipping terminals, and power and water supply creation could generate more business opportunities for local firms.

Such positive outlook could bolster the local ICT, electronics and engineering industries to continue providing products and services to cater to both the global and local markets. But to do this, the industry has to strengthen itself by providing the right environments that make local companies more competitive and more efficient in delivering services.

“This is where we as an organization are focusing our strengths on: to continue improving the skills of our engineers, to bring our industries at a competitive level in the global market, and to continue becoming an essential contributor to the Philippine economy,” said Ornan Vicente, president of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP).

Vicente said the ICT sector has been the fastest growing sector in the electronics industry. This is due to the modernization of many traditional manufacturing industries, the growth of the Internet as a business operations platform, as well as new business opportunities to provide technology-related services for other industries.

When Republic Act 9292, or the Electronics and Communications Engineering Act of the Philippines, was enacted into law, it became imperative that the electronics engineering community in the Philippines ensure adherence to the direction of the government, which is to modernize the entire government system to deliver better services to the public.

In particular, Republic Act 8792 or the E-Commerce Act also made the work of Filipino electronics engineers ever more relevant as it set the bar for the direction in turning the Philippines into an ICT service provider.

“Much has to be done to improve the country’s ICT sector and to do that, we must have better skilled and better equipped electronics engineers. The companies they represent must also be essential part of this growth and as such, must be given all the assistance they need to pursue their goals. This way, we will all contribute to the growth of the Philippine economy,” Vicente said.

The IECEP is preparing for its 60th anniversary with its annual convention, this time focusing on continuing education for the country’s engineers.

The IECEP’s International Electronics Conference and Exposition 2010 will be held on Dec. 7 to 9 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The event will highlight the latest electronics innovations in various vertical industries, including ICT, security and defense, power and energy, broadcast and communications, and semiconductor and computers.