IBM, province forge links for workforce development

IBM Philippines has formalized its partnership with the Cebu Provincial government in setting up an effective framework to develop the workforce in Cebu, specifically in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

IBM president Joaquin Quintos offered IBM's concept on "Workforce Development Program," which would also pattern the structure from the newly released "Global Innovation Outlook", a projection of experts on where the technology and innovation are headed.

IBM's offering to make a strong foundation for workforce especially in ICT was recently formalized through a Resolution No. 2084-2005 of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, which cited IBM's role in a "study on the immediate need to be done by Cebu to strengthen and develop the workforce supply for ICT so that its workforce will be kept updated with the latest work trends."

Quintos said IBM would have to invite stakeholders in the industry to formulate the framework.

"We will act as facilitator, and we will invite more participants in this program," Quintos said.

Already, IBM has sealed an agreement with Cebu Educational Development Foundation for I.T. or Cedfit to move this project in Cebu, now the Provincial Government through Governor Gwen Garcia has formally endorsed the program.

"We believe that the province of Cebu is a vibrant community. Together, we can implement this developmental program together," Quintos said in a press conference.

Quintos said Cebu's potential to suck the multi-billion dollars outsourcing, call center, and other ICT related investments should be well complimented with qualified workforce that are readily capable of the industry's requirements.

"There has to be a plan and strategy on how to develop and prepare next generation workforce to embrace the fast changing need of skills in the industry," Quintos said.

In the past three years, there was a big shift in operation structure of corporations, this include the evolution of outsourcing trend.

The Philippines appears to generate approximately US$2 billion annually in IT enabled services and growing. This rapid growth provides several benefits, such as efficient job generation, more high paying jobs, growth in support industries, increased consumer purchasing power, and enhanced, competitively priced communications infrastructure, among others.

Cebu is positioning to capture an increasing share in this new service, thus it is an immediate need to prepare its manpower to meet the demands of global competitiveness.

According to Quintos that manpower development framework, which will overhaul the current structure especially in the academe, among others, can be done in the next six to eight months.

Through Cedfit, the program will group together the big players in the academe sector, as well as in the industry sector, together with the Provincial government to start the formulation as soon as possible.