Noynoy's state visits eyed to "sell" RP's knowledge workers

By Office of Rep. Joseph A. Santiago
June 15, 2010

QUEZON CITY  –  Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago favors the private sector's plan to tap some P160 million in government subsidy to help "sell" abroad the abilities of the country's knowledge workers during President-elect Benigno Aquino III's first state visits to other nations.

The plan is expected to draw in up to $5 billion new foreign investments, mostly in information technology (IT)-enabled services, Santiago said.

"We are absolutely behind the plan, which is essential to protecting and advancing our gains in the global markets for IT-backed services, particularly software development and engineering design," said Santiago, chairman of the House committee on information and communications technology.

He urged the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines (SEIPI) and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) to combine forces in lobbying the new President to support the planned global marketing campaign.

The plan involves the placement of high-impact advertisements in leading international cable TV channels and newspapers that cater to the business community.

Santiago said the ads and roadshows for potential investors should be synchronized with Aquino's initial foreign trips, which are expected to attract ample global publicity.

Aquino's highly credible pledge to fight corruption is also expected to help pull in the new investors, he pointed out.

"We don't see any reason why SEIPI and BPAP can't ask the new administration to set aside P160 million out of the ESF to finance the global marketing drive," Santiago said.

The ESF refers to the P1-billion Export Support Fund. Government established the fund to prop up exporters at the onset of the global financial crisis and recession in 2008.

Knowledge workers refer to personnel valued for their ability to interpret and analyze information within a specific subject area. Their skills help companies identify problems and work out solutions through innovation, design and development.

As a result, companies are able to create new products, enhance processes, and increase productivity.

The country's IT-enabled industries, which Santiago said are "basically exporting services," are solidly on track to sustaining growth in the years ahead.

Besides software development and engineering design, the services also encompass animation; digital content; customer care; back offices; and medical, legal and other data transcription.