IT jobs key to curbing brain drain in S. Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Employment opportunities in information technology (IT) businesses will be instrumental in stemming the brain drain in Southern Mindanao within five years, an academician said in a forum last week. Edwin V. Maranon, head of the Ateneo de Davao University Computer Studies Department, said this projection is anchored on the entry of major IT firms in this city. Southern Mindanao loses its IT workers to other areas like Metro Manila, Cebu and abroad, with only two of every 10 workers absorbed by local companies, he said. The key is increasing the number of firms that deal with IT services, ranging from mere Web site development to business process outsourcing (BPO), Mr. Maranon said. Erriberto P. Barriga Jr., a consultant of the IT industry group here, earlier said that some foreign and Manila-based IT firms, mostly BPO outfits, have asked him to find sites for local operation. Mr. Barriga said this shows that property owners in the city have begun targetting the needs of these companies. Lizabel G. Holganza, president of the Information and Communications Association of Davao Inc., earlier noted that the city’s IT prospects are bright, considering Davao ranks fourth — next to Laguna, Cavite and Iloilo — among the 10 "next wave cities" that can serve as BPO hubs in the country outside major centers like Metro Manila and Cebu, according to the survey this year of the Business Process Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) and Outsource2Philippines Inc. What must be done, Ms. Holganza added, is for industry stakeholders to cooperate closely to find ways to improve the competitiveness of the city in attracting investors. "We need to act together in improving the overall the city’s image as a safe destination by providing substantive evidence to counter the negative perception of the Mindanao region [due to conflict and bomb attacks in a few areas]," she said. "The depth of Davao City’s manpower pool is on account of the presence of 42 colleges and universities which yield about 15,000 tertiary graduates annually," she added. She also noted that the presence of big telecommunications providers and low real estate cost should boost this city’s attractiveness to more locators. — BusinessWorld