Author: user user

The recent revelations from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) raise a critical question for the print media industry: Are printed newspapers destined for extinction? The latest Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) indicates a staggering decline in the exposure of Filipinos to printed newspapers, plummeting by 30 percent since 2019. This trend is not just a symptom of changing preferences but a reflection of a broader shift in how society consumes information.

As Filipinos increasingly turn away from traditional forms of mass media, the statistics tell a poignant story. Radio, once a staple of both urban and rural life, has seen its exposure drop to 52.9 percent, a significant decline from the 75.2 percent recorded just four years ago. While television remains a dominant force with an 82.3 percent exposure rate, it too is witnessing a decline from its former heights of 96 percent.

The sharpest decline, however, belongs to printed newspapers, which have seen their reach dwindle to less than half of what it was in 2019. This dramatic falloff is not merely a matter of numbers; it signifies a profound shift in cultural consumption and communication.

In stark contrast to the decline of print media, digital platforms are flourishing. Online newspapers have garnered a 52.1 percent exposure rate, indicating a growing preference for digital over print. Video and music streaming services are also on the rise, with exposure rates of 66.5 percent and 63.5 percent, respectively. This data underscores a generational shift in how Filipinos access news and entertainment, favoring the convenience and immediacy of digital platforms.

Moreover, the overwhelming statistic that 68.42 million Filipinos use the Internet for social media highlights the shifting landscape where traditional media struggles to compete. The Internet is not just a tool for information; it has become a vital social platform and a primary source for news consumption.

The implications of these trends are profound. As printed newspapers fade, the journalism industry must adapt to a digital-first environment. This transition poses challenges, including the need for sustainable business models that can thrive in a predominantly online marketplace. While the decline of print may seem inevitable, it also presents opportunities for innovation in how news is reported, shared, and consumed.

Furthermore, the shift to digital media raises questions about the quality of information. The rapid dissemination of news online can lead to the spread of misinformation if not carefully managed. It is crucial for both media organizations and consumers to prioritize credible sources and verify information before sharing it.

While printed newspapers may be on the brink of obsolescence, it is not the end of journalism itself. The industry must embrace the digital age, leveraging new technologies and platforms to reach audiences effectively. As society moves forward, it is essential to champion quality journalism that informs and engages the public, regardless of the medium. The future of news may be digital, but its core mission-to inform and educate-remains timeless.

Actually, the demise of print had been foretold by all sorts of experts for over two decades. BusinessMirror was born just about the time they were prophesying the end of the newspaper as we know it. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this October, we are faced with the undeniable reality of this changing landscape. It is a challenge we face squarely, having steadily transitioned into storytelling in the digital universe, even while keeping the rock-solid processes and protocols that have kept the traditional newsroom a most trusted and reliable gatekeeper of information. We reassure our readers and friends that BusinessMirror will continue to deliver exceptional business journalism-yes, the ‘broader look at today’s business-across all platforms. We are excited to take on the challenge of expanding the way we produce high-quality content in the digital age.

The Department of Transportation has scrapped the unsolicited Public-Private Partnership (PPP) proposal for modernization of the Kalibo International Airport following the failure of negotiations with the original proponent, according to materials presented at the Aviation Summit.

The presentation by DOTr Undersecretary for Airports and Aviation Jim Sydiongco revealed that the original proponent status has been revoked and the unsolicited proposal for the project has been returned to the bidder.

He deferred to the legal services team of the agency when asked for clarifications.

Despite the failed PPP attempt, Sydiongco said the government is moving forward with its own P8.10-billion development project for the Aklan airport, which serves as a gateway to the popular tourist destination of Boracay.

He said the project includes a runway extension to 2,650 meters in the medium term, with plans to further extend it to 3,000 meters in the long term. Currently, the airport operates with a 2,500-meter runway.

As of July 31, site acquisition efforts have secured 292 out of 918 targeted lots, covering 123.24 hectares of the 179.44 hectares needed for the expansion.

Construction of a new apron and site development at the new landside area are currently ongoing, along with consulting services for the detailed engineering design of the new passenger terminal building.

The new terminal will cover 28,510 square meters initially, with future expansion planned up to 34,180 square meters. The existing terminal has a capacity of 2 million passengers per annum.

The DOTr is targeting to complete the project by December 2030. Once completed, the airport is expected to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) standards for international flights.

Asia’s poultry sector teetered on the brink of collapse some two decades ago, as bird flu ravaged farms and even posed a threat to human health. At the time, the disease had already infected poultry in Vietnam and Thailand-two of the Philippines’ neighbors in Southeast Asia.

The government scrambled to prevent its entry into the Philippines, resulting in the imposition of temporary bans on poultry shipments following confirmed reports of bird flu outbreaks in their areas. These restrictions resulted in supply disruptions and created uncertainty in the poultry trade in the region.

A crucial protein source, chicken serves as a cornerstone ingredient in various cuisines due to its adaptability. It can be pan-fried or grilled in a tangy and savory mix that Filipinos have grown to enjoy, while egg stands out on its own due to its versatility and mere affordability.

But neither the crunch of fried chicken nor the crackle of fried eggs that would complete a ‘silog’ plate would remain affordable if not for Filipino poultry raisers who have learned to adapt and remained flexible in the face of unprecedented setbacks.

‘Catastrophic’

The Philippines may have kept bird flu at bay for over a decade by implementing the necessary protocols to prevent its entry. However, the threat did not go away as Asian countries and even the country’s Southeast Asian neighbors continued to experience outbreaks, especially during the cold months.

It took the bird flu virus 14 years to reach the Philippines after it nearly crippled Asia’s poultry market in the early 2000s. The ‘ground zero’ of the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was in Central Luzon, considered a critical chokepoint in domestic poultry shipments. It was caused by H5N6, considered a highly contagious strain, prompting the government to order the culling of over 400,000 birds to stop the disease on its tracks.

United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra) Chairman Elias Jose Inciong said the confirmation of bird flu jolted the domestic poultry market and stoked concerns among Filipino consumers who decided to shun chicken for fear that they would also fall ill.

This reaction trickled to broiler producers who rear chickens solely for their meat, even if these were not affected by the HPAI due to their short production cycle.

Inciong lamented the collapse in farmgate prices of broiler chickens, although the majority of the cases involved ducks, which constitute a fraction of the country’s poultry population.

‘There was a point when the farmgate price plunged to P10 per kilo. Your production cost at that time was P80 to P90 pesos,’ he told the BusinessMirror.

‘Most of the bird flu cases that time were seen in ducks, and ducks account for less than two percent of the poultry sector.’

Inciong said appetite for chicken meat returned after the government and industry stakeholders joined hands in dispelling wrong notions about bird flu.

The domestic poultry sector eventually recovered and regained most of the business it temporarily lost when the animal disease struck the Philippines.

The confirmed presence of the bird flu subtype H5N1 in 2022, however, threatened to wipe out whatever gains the country has made in terms of fighting the scourge that could cripple the industry. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) noted that the avian influenza (AI) outbreak of this strain first happened in January 2022.

Considered a deadly strain for poultry, H5N1 and the COVID-19 pandemic posed a formidable threat to the local industry and reversed the progress it had made after the outbreaks in 2017.

The COVID-19 pandemic and bird flu outbreaks restricted the mobility of men and poultry shipments alike as the government scrambled to contain these diseases. Hence, farmgate prices, once again, slumped to a low of P10 per kilo.

While industry players get hit by lower farmgate prices due to seasonal factors, the two diseases proved to be catastrophic for the poultry sector.

‘It’s the inability to move during the pandemic. It was the scare in 2017,’ Inciong said.

But the broiler industry wasn’t alone in the struggle.

Egg crunch

The layer industry also took a hit during the pandemic and the bird flu outbreaks. Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) President Francis Uyehara said farmgate prices of eggs dipped during the initial months following the outbreaks in 2022.

‘The farmgate price of eggs dropped, maybe because of lower consumption, which was possibly due to the scare surrounding bird flu. But it didn’t last long,’ Uyehara told the BusinessMirror.

He noted that several poultry raisers affected by the disease, as well as the culling of birds to curb the spread of bird flu, slashed production, leading to a supply crunch that propelled egg prices.

‘There were farms hit by the disease, which crimped egg output. Generally, the price of table eggs rose because of tight supply brought by the bird flu outbreaks,’ Uyehara said.

The BAI noted that since the detection of the H5N1 subtype, around 200 cases were recorded nationwide in mid-August 2022. This resulted in the mortality of 182,968 heads and the culling of 1.27 million birds.

Layer farms that were spared from the bird flu outbreaks that wreaked havoc in the country also had to pay the price, according to Uyehara.

He said he had to heighten biosecurity protocols, which were ‘very laborious and very expensive.’

‘We also spent a lot on these protocols. There were lots of disinfectants, and we had to be cautious with the flow of people, clients, suppliers, and vehicles, since everyone was coming in,’ Uyehara said.

‘Even though we didn’t get bird flu, we were still affected by the strict implementation of protocols in general by the BAI.’

He noted that shipments of products, live birds for replacement, and spent hens or layer hens that reached the end of their laying cycle and are then processed for meat were therefore subject to the government’s strict protocols.

‘Many local governments also took the opportunity to charge additional fees, unnecessary passing fees. All of that is extra work and additional expense for us,’ Uyehara said.

Buoying agri output

Despite the toll of the disease on the poultry industry in recent years, it was the sole subsector that recorded sustained growth in the past six quarters.

In its latest report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that while the fisheries and livestock subsectors contracted in terms of value, the crops and poultry subsectors maintained their rise enough to buoy the agriculture industry’s performance in April to June.

Poultry, which is valued at P75.07 billion, posted a 7-percent increase in the reference period. The production of chicken and chicken eggs recorded an expansion in their value of production.

Industry sources have attributed poultry’s growth to the technological advancements in the sector, such as climate-controlled facilities leveraged for weather-related shocks.

Meanwhile, the industry also recently secured a win with the approval of the country’s first commercially approved vaccine against bird flu-a move long sought after by the sector amid the alleged use of smuggled vaccine.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Volvac B.E.S.T. AI plus ND.

While the vaccine provides immunity against the HPAI’s ‘most aggressive’ subtype H5N1, it also stimulates the bird’s immune system to defend against velogenic Newcastle disease (VND).

VND is the most severe form of Newcastle disease that affects a wide range of bird species, especially domestic poultry, due to its highly contagious and often fatal nature.

Potential pitfalls

The worst may be over for the poultry sector, but Ubra said developments on the domestic front could pose a threat to the industry.

For one, Inciong noted that zoning laws could push farmers out of a particular area.

‘There are places that don’t want to have poultry or even piggery around them. Eventually, you would have to get out.’

He also noted that there was a lack of provision in the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) that could have ensured farmers’ security of tenure in a specific area.

‘The provision in AFMA that there should be a strategic agri-fisheries development zone, preferably in each province and municipality, was not implemented.’

Furthermore, Inciong raised a caveat about the potential impact of a few players solely dominating the value chain on smallholder raisers.

‘The problem in other countries was that the number of players declined, and the agricultural value chain became concentrated in a few corporations. That’s a problem since the [value chain] was dominated by a few.’

‘You are depriving a lot of small and medium-scale businesses and small retailers, distributors of livelihood. That is the main challenge in the coming years,’ Inciong said.

With this, he urged the preservation of the palengke or public market that would help smallhold farmers thrive in the coming years.

‘The wet market should be preserved because it is where small retailers can make a living, and at the same time, that’s also the market for small farmers since transactions are done on a cash basis.’

HOUSE of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader Leila M. de Lima and Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan have both filed separate resolutions seeking a congressional investigation into the alleged misuse, irregularities, and inefficiencies in the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) and other related health programs.

De Lima filed House Resolution 353 following reports of massive wastage of DOH funds and potential corruption among government officials, employees, and private contractors-resulting in what she described as ‘haunted hospitals,’ or abandoned, incomplete, and non-operational health facilities across the country.

‘More and more anomalies are being uncovered in the DOH. With so many incomplete or abandoned hospitals and health facilities, are you the Department of Health or the Department of Haunted Hospitals?’ de Lima, the nominee of the party-list group Mamamayang Liberal, asked.

‘These issues of incompetence and irregularities are very alarming and frustrating, especially for the Filipino people who urgently need quality, accessible, and affordable medical services,’ she said.

De Lima lamented that despite the billions of pesos allocated for the construction of hospitals and health centers, many remain unfinished or deliberately left incomplete.

During the House deliberations on the proposed 2026 DOH budget, Diokno flagged that only 200 of the 600 health centers constructed under the HFEP were operational as of 2025. This observation echoed findings cited in de Lima’s resolution, which referred to a 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report revealing that 123 projects worth P11.5 billion were not completed within their contract deadlines.

Moreover, during the House plenary debates on the DOH budget for next year, de Lima also expressed alarm over the insufficient supply-or complete lack-of medicines in public hospitals, as well as the questionable allocation of government-procured mental health medicines worth hundreds of millions, which are nearing expiration, a portion of which was reportedly delivered to the Rotary Club of Quezon City, but denied by a former official of the latter organization.

In a similar move, Diokno, joined by the Akbayan Reform Bloc members, Reps. Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, filed HR 351 urging the House Committees on Public Accounts and Health to investigate alleged irregularities and inefficiencies in the HFEP, which has received hundreds of billions in funding over the past decade.

The HFEP was designed to construct, rehabilitate, and upgrade barangay health stations, rural health units, and other medical facilities nationwide. However, Diokno pointed out that despite massive allocations, many of these facilities remain idle or underutilized.

‘This is a matter that needs to be looked into because the health of the Filipino people is at stake. Hundreds of billions of pesos have been allotted for this program, yet it has not delivered on its promise of accessible healthcare for our countrymen,’ Diokno said.

Data presented by Akbayan shows that the HFEP budget ballooned from only P43.5 million in 2007 to P34.7 billion in 2025, with a cumulative allocation of P241.4 billion over the past 18 years. The DOH has also disclosed that around P400 billion has been released to local government units (LGUs) under the program in the last decade.

Despite the hefty funding, Diokno said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa himself admitted that only 200 out of 600 HFEP-built centers are functional, comparing the unfinished facilities to ‘flood control projects’ left incomplete.

‘These irregularities undermine the objectives of Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, which guarantees equitable access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos,’ the Akbayan resolution added.

Both lawmakers stressed that Congress has the constitutional duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds and to protect the integrity of programs meant to deliver essential health services.

De Lima previously filed HR 46 in July to probe the unpaid claims of private hospitals under the DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (Maifip) program, which had caused several hospitals to temporarily suspend the acceptance of guarantee letters.

With the filing of HR 351 and 353, lawmakers are calling for a full-blown congressional inquiry to determine accountability and institute reforms that will prevent further waste of public funds and ensure that government health programs truly serve the Filipino people.

ACTING Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the lifetime revocation of the license of the driver of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) who deliberately rammed a student on a motorcycle in Teresa, Rizal which went viral on social media.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lopez said he ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to locate the driver in line with President Marcos’s directive to ensure accountability of drivers who endanger the lives of all road users.

‘Ang driver na iyan ay walang karapatan magmaneho sa kalsada. Sabihin na nating totoo mang nasagi ang kanyang sasakyan. Tama bang habulin at bundulin mo iyong bata? [That driver has no place on the country’s roads. Let’s say the student did hit their vehicle. Is it right for him to chase and ram the kid?]’ he said.

In addition, Lopez will speak to the family of the victim and will provide the services of a lawyer to file a case against the driver.

‘No amount of explanation can justify his actions. Mas may edad siya, dapat alam niya kung ano ang tama [He is older, he should know what’s right],’ he said.

The DOTr is coordinating with the National Police (PNP) to investigate the said incident.

The LTO will also issue a show-cause order against the driver and owner of the vehicle involved in the incident.

In a video sent to the DOTr, a dark-colored SUV was caught on CCTV cameras deliberately ramming a student on a motorcycle in two separate incidents.

The student managed to remain on his motorcycle and drove away after being rammed by the SUV in the first video, but fell off the motorcycle during the second ramming, with the SUV dragging the motorcycle several feet before stopping.

The Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) is beefing up its commitment to inclusive nutrition, ensuring that the nation’s 115 million citizens, particularly the marginalized sector, have access to safe and adequate nourishment.

This commitment, underscored by the philosophy that ‘no family should be left behind,’ was a key theme at the recent ‘Optimizing Nutrition Across Life Stages’ conference held at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila.

Vannizsa Ramas of DOST-FNRI articulated the government’s unwavering stance, emphasizing that every Filipino must be able to access safe, acceptable, and nutritionally adequate food, especially in times of crisis. With the Philippines frequently battered by natural disasters, the government is intensifying its focus on making inclusive nutrition a centerpiece of disaster relief operations.

Evaluate relief goods

This focus is echoed by experts who stressed the need to look beyond mere distribution. Social worker Evelyn Valencia challenged the audience to critically evaluate relief goods:

Are these foods nutritionally balanced?

Are they safe?

Will they aid in the recovery of survivors?

Are they acceptable in terms of taste and cultural preference?

Do they reach the most vulnerable groups?

Valencia highlighted that groups with specific nutritional needs, such as children, pregnant individuals, the elderly, and the handicapped, are a prime concern, as they require tailored support. This sentiment drives the imperative to incorporate a nutritional lens into every aspect of disaster aid.

DOST-FNRI’s commitment to inclusivity is being operationalized through partnerships with various government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. Ramas stressed the urgency of integrating health and nutrition as the core of all disaster preparation efforts.

Dr. Leonora Panlasagui, Dean Emeritus of the College of Nutrition at Philippine Women’s University, further emphasized that nutrition inclusivity is paramount for those ‘at the bottom of the pyramid,’ including residents in rural areas. She called for a unified, collaborative effort among all sectors.

Nutritional inadequacy

Consumer advocate Elsa Gaspar brought attention to the frequent nutritional inadequacy of food pantry items, noting common deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and often dangerously high sodium content. She and others have observed that relief efforts sometimes suffer from poor management of donations, such as a ‘truck of chocolates’ or ‘a truck of cheese,’ which, while well-intentioned, fail the test of nutritional balance. This underscores a critical need for nutritional screening and management of donations to ensure true inclusivity and efficacy.

The panelists agreed that there should be a call to action where health and nutrition must be the foundation of disaster resilience. The collaborative spirit of the conference, which brought together social workers, academic institutions, consumer advocates, and government bodies, signals a concerted push to move beyond reactive aid.

The shared goal is to ensure that, through collaboration, innovation, and a firm commitment to the principles of social work, all Filipinos-especially the most vulnerable-receive the proper nutritional resources necessary not only for survival but for full recovery and well-being. This requires ongoing work to ensure people are ready and not left behind when calamities strike.

TWO decades in and the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry is sailing through new types of waves after overcoming the industry’s birthing pains in the early 2000s and the most recent one-the big wave that was the pandemic.

While it exited from the pandemic almost unscathed, industry pioneers, moving forward, have shared their views on what to keep an eye on after showing resiliency for the past two decades.

While the two founding leaders differed in perspectives, they agreed on one thing: Talent crunch is the ‘ongoing challenge’ for the industry, adding that the Filipino talent is at a critical juncture amid the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a tool which can either be a friend or a foe, depending on how it’s utilized.

Early 2000s: birthing pains

MAPPING out the twenty-year journey of the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Rainerio ‘Bong’ Borja, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Alorica Inc. and former IBPAP Chairman told the BusinessMirror in a virtual interview that the first challenge the industry encountered in the early 2000s was establishing the brand of the industry as it was just starting out.

Borja said: ‘When you’re starting a business even more so with an industry, you’re trying to establish a brand, a reputation. To attract possible clients and investors to do business with you, specifically because we were an unknown quantity at that point in time. So there was a lot of convincing.’

He said the industry pioneer companies banded together with a ‘common theme,’ which was to promote the Philippines. Borja said the industry’s trailblazers flocked to New York for the industry’s first international conference to promote the Philippine IT-BPM industry.

Borja described this phase of the industry as being positioned in a ‘restaurant strip,’ having people go there to see which restaurant to pick.

‘The first thing you should do is be convinced that the Philippines is the right location, that the Filipino talent is what would actually be able to deliver your business requirements from a customer care perspective, for example,’ Borja said, adding that these happened in the early 2000s, as some of the IT-BPM businesses were being simultaneously established in the country.

2005-2010: PHL overtakes India in Voice-Based Services

BORJA describes the years 2005 to 2010 as a game of scale, which means ‘trying to scale up to be a very strong competitor to India, because India was the powerhouse that time.’

During this phase, he said there was a ‘scramble’ for attracting top leadership talent that can manage to scale up, such as getting ‘first-class’ facilities to be able to hire people and accommodate them while trying to ‘live up’ to the established global standards.

It was also during these years that the Philippines overtook India to be the number one BPO country in the world for voice-based services, the industry pioneer said.

Upon dawning on India that the voice business is the Philippines’s turf, it had to pivot to more ‘non-voice work,’ Borja said, adding that this means leaning towards more back-office, IT type of work.

2005-2016: Tapping talent in the provinces

WHILE the Philippine IT-BPM industry discovered that its strength lies in voice-based services, Borja underscored that growth did carry challenges along the way.

For one, he noted: ‘There were areas where we were being called out because we were saturated in certain locations. And so that was also the reason why we spread out into the provinces.’

A similar recollection comes from another industry trailblazer, Danilo Sebastian Reyes, who also used to sit as the IBPAP Chairman. ‘Over the course of the last 20 years, the IT-BPM industry had several challenges throughout its evolution.’

Reyes added: ‘The challenge in the 1st trimester was the availability of Human Resources. The industry grew exponentially and there was not enough talent to fuel the hypersonic growth.’

Borja said in the early 2000s, the Philippines had a lot of ‘untapped graduates,’ adding, ‘We were graduating around half a million people every year and there [were] really not [many] white-collar jobs to speak of other than what was generated by the BPO industry.’

Describing this era as ‘growth pains,’ Borja said growth came with the need to ensure that ‘We were managing talent, that we don’t poach each other’s people, that we develop new talent as much as we could.’

These growth pains prompted the ‘ever-changing’ industry to keep up with the demands of its clients’ evolving needs in the area of business solutions.

‘You know, your clients are becoming more complex in the requirements, and we have to be able to adapt right?’ Borja emphasized, adding that Filipino workers’ skill levels have to increase year-on-year because ‘we’re tackling more complex transactions compared to before and with the advent of technology, you can see it now even with AI.’

In line with this, Reyes explained that in the second trimester of the industry’s 20-year revolution, new types of BPO services such as IT, Gaming, Healthcare, Animation, Finance and Accounting, among others, ‘sprouted that would require talents with new set of skills and competencies.’

Between 2005 and 2010, Borja cited an instance when the industry had a ‘medical transcription’ subsector which later on was displaced by technology because the said subsector required simple skills.

‘And so all these medical transcriptionists have to transition to become, eventually, medical coders which are high-end type work. And so they have to train and we have to retrain,’ added Borja.

The industry pioneer said the Philippine IT-BPM industry was able to evolve and adapt because the Filipino workforce is ‘very trainable.’

2020 onwards: The pandemic changes the work set-up

WHEN the world was jolted by the Covid-19, the IT-BPM industry found itself pushing to work from home.

‘Again, something very foreign and very new to the Philippines and to our workforce. You know, we have to scramble having logistics be able to deliver, you know, workstations, equipment, provide internet access to people working from home,’ Borja noted.

For his part, Reyes, the former IBPAP chairman, told this newspaper that he believes the Philippine IT-BPM industry sustained its growth in the last twenty years despite the pandemic.

‘It is only one of few industries that I know of that grew year-on-year even during the pandemic. Certainly, growth is no longer exponential in terms of jobs created but the quality of jobs have dramatically improved. Due to this, one job in the industry is now contributing twice the amount of revenue,’ added Reyes.

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or foe?

FOR the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Reyes pointed out that AI ‘has become and continues to be the centerpiece of the third trimester; the challenge for the industry is how to adapt and take advantage of AI to not only survive but continue to thrive.’

Borja, meanwhile, said: ‘The individual companies are doing their own bit to try to upskill their workforce, including in AI. We’re embracing it heavily as an industry. Our workforce is currently using it so they don’t see it as a threat. They see it as an aid.’

He is banking on the Filipino workforce to adapt even amid the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence, saying the younger generation had quickly kept pace with social media.

During his speech at the recent International IT-BPM Summit 2025, IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid underscored that this year’s theme, ‘Rewired for Value: The Global Wake-Up Call,’ is not a warning. Instead, he said, it is an ‘invitation.’

‘An invitation to sharpen our edge. To deepen our partnerships. To move with urgency in a world transforming all around us. And as I stand before you, I am reminded of one truth: what got us here will not get us to where we need to be,’ added Madrid.

Madrid said the headwinds to watch out for are the ‘next-generation agents, geopolitics, rising costs, shifting customer expectations.’

He added: ‘These are not just challenges for the Philippines. They are global realities. Our strength lies not in avoiding them, but in how we respond to them.’

Hence, Madrid said the local IT-BPM industry cannot afford complacency.

‘We cannot allow the ‘sunset industry’ narrative to take root. Because, we are growing faster than the global market,’ he also noted.

While the world continues to see the Philippine IT-BPM industry as a ‘trusted, indispensable’ partner, the head of the flagship organization of the industry said the challenge is not survival.

‘Our challenge is to remain indispensable by strengthening our value,’ Madrid said, adding that AI is not the apocalypse some fear, nor is it the silver bullet some promise.

‘It is a swing factor. It will reshape roles, yes. But the story is not replacement-it is augmentation. And for the Philippines, that is the opportunity: because what we bring-deep process knowledge, cultural empathy, and trusted human interaction-AI cannot replace,’ the IBPAP head said.

Today, Madrid said only 12 percent of Philippine firms report high AI maturity. Nearly half are experimenting but not scaling. Four in 10 are still in the early stages.

By 2028, more than 70 percent expect to reach high maturity.

‘The winners will not be those chasing demos. The winners will be those who rewire workflows with AI, with humans at the core-closing the skills gap in cloud, cybersecurity, and automation,’ Madrid underscored.

By 2026, the IT-BPM industry is projecting $42 billion in revenues and close to 2 million jobs.

In 2024, IBPAP said the industry hit the $38- billion revenue target while the industry added 120,000 new jobs last year, hitting its 1.82 million employees target last year.

Illustrating the evolution of skills within the Philippine IT-BPM industry, Borja noted that in early 2000s, the industry placed emphasis on raising the quality of Filipinos’ English communication skills.

The road leading up to 2025 saw that the demanded skillset has morphed into something more complex which requires the government, industry and academe to put in place a plan that would sustain and even level up what the Filipino talent can offer to the world.

‘What we’re advocating for now is training Filipinos to be very strong AI adopters,’ Borja said, adding: ‘So we can’t just get people who answer phones or change passwords. Those things have been automated. Now the questions are a lot more complex.’

The skillset required today, he said, should be aligned with making judgment calls, decision-making, ‘a lot’ of analytical thinking.

‘I remember early on in 2000s, the concern was the quality of English of Filipinos, so we were putting a lot of emphasis on training and upskilling, focusing on their English skills or their English communication skills. And then that changed into, you know, more training and upskilling, not only in English skills, but in comprehension, in analytical thinking, right? And then it evolved and now focusing on having our workforce be AI adopters,’ the industry pioneer noted.

In the 20-year timeframe, Reyes said the industry has been able ‘to elevate ourselves from merely serving those around the table to earning our own seat in the table.’

‘From the early days of the industry wherein voice services was the predominant factor, for growth, to now being able to partner with clients in addressing business problems and creating innovative ways of business processing, the industry has evolved by leaps and bounds,’ added the industry pioneer.

Madrid said the IT-BPM industry’s core remains strong: banking and financial services, healthcare, and global leadership in customer experience.

Today, he said the industry contributes over 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

‘The Philippine IT-BPM industry is too big to fail. But just as important, it is too important not to evolve,’ the IBPAP President emphasized.

NO REMORSE

REVELATIONS about the starlet’s past may not have obviously affected her career but it has in ways not visible to the public. For example, she is in danger of losing a movie project, and a number of possible endorsements have not pushed through. And there’s the upcoming holiday season where three or four corporate shows could add to the millions already in her bank account. The problem is that the starlet seems remorseful so her management is doing everything they can for damage control. For sure, some of those endorsements will not be renewed.

ONE TRUE LOVE

WITH so many scandals related to politics these days, it’s not surprising that there are many rumors about this politician. Said to be gay, the politician’s boyfriend is reportedly a member of his staff. The politician has allegedly had many boyfriends and most of them are handsome but sources said the staff member is his true love. Meanwhile, how does his wife feel about all these rumors? She pretends as if everything is okay and that they’re a family, and there is some truth to that.

RED FLAG

SPOTTED at a private restaurant were an actress and a politician, along with some friends, staff members, and colleagues. The actress posed for photographs but the politician was said to be super elusive, which is unusual because he usually loves publicity of any sort. The couple is said to be in a relationship but there has been some backlash over it because according to certain quarters, the politician is a red flag as evidenced by what happened to his past relationships. The rumors have resulted in the actress being bashed even by her fans. She was once their sweetheart but they now feel that she betrayed them.

SPONSORED BY A POLITICIAN?

THE public is scrutinizing the lives nepo babies and profligate wives, husbands, and partners of politicians but no one has pointed a finger at the actress. She is now going the fashion route to become more popular. So guess who is spending for this new adventure? Her rumored boyfriend who comes from a family of politicians. The boyfriend has been under attack lately so it’s a wonder that he spent this much for her so publicly.

At the Czech Republic National Day, Ambassador Karel Hejc (left) underscored the growing cooperation with the Philippines in defense, security, culture, and environmental protection, while recognizing the increasing number of Filipinos who are building their careers in Czechia. He further shared the Czech Embassy’s recent partnership with Savage Mind Studio, which produced a Bikol-language audiobook of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis which will be featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the Philippines is this year’s guest of honor. The ambassador also highlighted the Czech Men’s Volleyball Team’s historic fourth-place finish at the recent FIVB Volleyball Men’s Championship held in Manila. MIKE POLICARPIO

WHAT makes Season 88 of the University Athletic Association (UAAP) interesting to watch?

First off, unpredictability. In past seasons it was clear from Day 1, or even back to the pre-season, that certain teams would dominate the field. From 2008 to 2012, the Ateneo Blue Eagles wore the crown and held the scepter, prompting rival coaches of the seven other UAAP teams to say ‘Ateneo’ as their pick to win it all at the end of tournaments.

After the Blue Eagles were dethroned, a period followed where the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons were dominant, finally winning the crown after 35 years in Season 84, then appearing in the finals for five consecutive seasons, finally winning it all again in Season 87-showing how Gold-en the UP basketball program has become.

De La Salle University also stamped its class, owning Season 86, played for all the marbles in Season 87, but fell short come finals time. Still La Salle was always the team to watch as it rebuilt and recruited, getting star acquisitions in this year’s pre-season to become the team to beat for Season 88, according to pundits.

But no. Come opening day, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers came off the starting gates like a couple of bats out a’ hell. The National University (NU) Bulldogs, long heartbroken with almost-made-it performances, kept pace with Ateneo in the win-loss charts in their best-ever start in the tournament in years. And defending champs UP had a horrendous start at the Pontifical University’s Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Three weeks in, the placements in the UAAP men’s basketball rankings are as wobbly as activated seismic needles. No one can really tell who’s going where-except for the Eagles who have maintained a perfect 4-0 record at this writing. All the other teams are canceling themselves out, adding to the uncertainty of each team’s fortunes this season.

The suspense is killing us!

The next interest factor? Rivalries. The Ateneo-La Salle Battle last weekend sent tectonic waves throughout the MOA Arena as classico fans turned up en masse for this much-missed match-up. With both teams now armed to the teeth with formidable personnel, it was a balanced contest worthy of the hype and pandemonium. Nothing can match the ‘gigil’ elicited by Ateneo-La Salle.

But beyond the Blue-Green rivalry, there are other rivalries that have sprung up and captured the imagination of collegiate fans. The Battle of Katipunan for one (Ateneo vs UP), the Battle of Sampaloc (UST vs NU), Battle of The East (Far Eastern University vs University of the East), Battle of the (Blue) Birds (Ateneo vs Adamson University), Battle of Church and State (UST vs UP) and the very hot, real rivalry between UP and De La Salle U, temporarily tagged as The New Age Rivalry.

These feelings of grudge, enmity and competition provide the extra oomph and ‘angas’ to the other kind of rivalry between fans going on in the stands.

Thirdly, the quality of competition. Collegiate games are loved and followed because they always have that one element not always seen in every game. Emotion. Call it by its other names: passion, going all out, school spirit. All of that is present in every game played in front of a loud and loyal crowd where every rebound, dribble, pass and shot is made with the community in mind.

School spirit is the X Factor in collegiate games. It is derived from the athletes’ and their school’s virtual parent-child relationship. It is driven by the school yells, the colors, the distinct drum beats and the presence of a familiar crowd of classmates, teachers, parents, alumni and staunch supporters. The fervent singing of the school hymn at the end of each game, win or lose, cements the loyalty and the eagerness to fight again for the alma mater.

All that translates into coaches doing their best to achieve the highest goal, into athletes giving their all and in so doing, whipping up performances worthy of titles and trophies and the best entertainment for the crowd.

Of late, leveled up recruitment by all teams have brought in amazing talents from different parts of the globe, including our still talent-rich provinces and provincial schools. That brings us to the fourth and last factor that makes collegiate games the thing to watch these days. New names and new faces. A constant parade of young discoveries and maturing stars who will one day graduate into the pros and become the super novas of Philippine basketball.

There’s always something fresh, something new in college basketball. This novelty plus unpredictability, rivalry and all-out competition makes this kind of basketball a nifty package we simply cannot refuse.