IBPAP in search of funds for workers’ ‘upskilling’ program

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) on Monday said it is now trying to secure funds for an industry “upskilling” program that is expected to cost P40 billion in the next five years.

IBPAP president and CEO Rey Untal said the group is now in talks with several parties from the government and the private sector for a possible funding of its “National Skills Upgrading Program.”

“The initial premise is that we’re looking for a model where a large part of the funding will be coming from the government,” Untal told GMA News Online on the sidelines of the International Innovation Summit in Taguig City.

Possible subsidies from the government to upskill the workforce of the outsourcing industry is what IBPAP is eyeing.

IBPAP chair Lito Tayag earlier cited the need to upscale the workforce upskilling in the advent of artificial intelligence.

Untal said the five-year program is estimated to cost P40 billion or P8 billion a year.

“Our wish is that similar to how other countries have done it, the government play a big role in terms of getting it off the ground,” he said.

Untal noted that Singapore subsidized 100 percent of the costs incurred in the country’s upskilling program, while the government of India shouldered 50 percent.

If the government takes part in the project, Untal said it will boost not only in terms of finances but also of connections as consultants from other countries may be tapped for the project.

“We are looking at the hiring of consultants that served as the framers in other countries,” he said.

In the absence of government participation, Untal said the IBPAP will have to look for funding elsewhere.

“While I don’t want to think of the other alternative where we have to source it elsewhere, if it comes to that then maybe we will pursue,” he said.

“But our ability to scale and train up to a million Filipinos in that amount of time will be adversely affected. Hindi natin kaya unless we find an entity that will provide that kind of a funding,” he added.

The group is now in talks with several private entities which could provide additional financing, but Untal declined to elaborate.

Members of the IBPAP board are set to meet with outsourcing industry stakeholders on Tuesday, November 13, to discuss the framework for the National Skills Upgrading Program. —VDS, GMA News