Philippines News

The billionaire wants to build an "everything app" that would combine consumer finance and blogging functions

Elon Musk has explained Twitter's overnight rebranding to 'X', as the billionaire seeks to expand the social media network beyond its micro-blogging functions and into a finance hub and messaging plat

THE Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is confident of hitting 2.3 million jobs by 2028 even as the industry moves towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes.

“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.

“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.

Sona mention

In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.

“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.

The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.

Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.

“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.

Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.

Targets

CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.

The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.

As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.

CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.

The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.

Seeking talent

Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.

“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.

She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.

But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.

Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.

Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.

Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.

The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.

CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.

Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.

Digital cities

The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.

Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.

But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.

“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.

Wage increase

Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.

Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.

“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.

“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.

Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.

THE Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is confident of hitting 2.3 million jobs by 2028 even as the industry moves towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes.

“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.

“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.

Sona mention

In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.

“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.

The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.

Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.

“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.

Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.

Targets

CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.

The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.

As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.

CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.

The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.

Seeking talent

Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.

“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.

She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.

But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.

Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.

Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.

Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.

The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.

CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.

Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.

Digital cities

The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.

Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.

But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.

“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.

Wage increase

Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.

Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.

“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.

“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.

Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.

(Photo credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports) Sarina Bolden scored in the 24th minute to lead the Philippines to a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in a Group A clash on Tuesday at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Wellington, New Zealand. Olivia McDaniel made four saves for the Philippines (1-1-0), which recorded its first goal and first win in Women's World Cup history. New Zealand (1-1-0) was unable to convert any of its sev

Goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann shielded Switzerland to a 0-0 draw against Norway on Tuesday at the Women's World Cup, as the Norwegians played without star striker Ada Hegerberg because of injury.

Hegerberg was initially listed to start, but the team announced during the match that the former Ballon d'Or winner was unable to play after experiencing 'a feeling in the groin' toward the end of her pre-match warmups.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has reminded the public to have their SIM cards registered by tonight, stressing that there will no longer be any further extension in the deadline.

Azimjon Askarov, a human rights defender and advocate for marginalized communities in southern Kyrgyzstan, should have turned 72 this year. He should be enjoying life with his wife, children, and grandchildren, happily painting landscapes and portraits. Instead, he died in prison three years ago today, held on sp

TWO graduates from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City topped the July 2023 Interior Designer Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission announced Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Ryan Japhet Albiso Gablines ranked first with a rating of 87% while Renzo Villanueva Montenegro landed in the third place with 86.05%.

Gablines shared the spot with Jena Carla Edquila de Guzman of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

PRC said that out of 443 examiners, 202 passed the exams.

The Interior Designer board exam was conducted on July 4 to 6, 2023 at the testing centers in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. (CLC)

The decline comes after Russia voluntarily slashed its oil output, data shows

Russian oil exports dropped to their lowest levels in two years, with revenues also tumbling, a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) published this month shows.

Moscow's shipments of crude and petroleum products fell by 600

HAMILTON, New Zealand, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland's goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann put on a good show on Tuesday as her fine saves helped Switzerland snatch one point against Norway in Group A of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Switzerland opened their World Cup campaign by defeating the Philippines 2-0, while Norway were frustrated by co-hosts New Zealand 1-0.

Norway were dealt a blow moments before th

People close to me know there is no love lost between me and the Marcos family. Nevertheless, I now give credit to Junior’s decision to disengage from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and assert sovereignty over the drug-war probe.

But in the same breath I must add that I am with him only on the objective reality of his decision. I do not pretend to know the subjective reality of his motives. For all I know these could be as self-interest-dictated as most if not all decisions are of what have so far been our elitist rulers.

It’s not like I don’t believe in crime and punishment either. It’s simply that while the core issue is whether or not extra-judicial killings occurred and to what extent, the immediate issue is who should conduct the probe, the ICC, a foreign entity, or our courts of law, our very own legal system.

I know where people are coming from when they push for the ICC to do the probing and proving (and punishing?). They, we, do not trust our courts of justice. And we can’t exactly be faulted for that because it is a sad reality that our judicial system sucks. It is essentially two-tiered, one tier quick and harsh on the poor and the other slow and lenient on the rich and powerful.

Which now begs such questions as: Isn’t the provision of justice a sovereign people’s responsibility? Can a sovereign people cry on other people’s shoulders for justice in their land? Can we run to the ICC and still keep our self-respect when we are not exactly lifting a credible finger to reform our ambiguous judicial system?

For indeed, what are we doing about our elitist democracy and its two-tiered justice system? Where, for instance, is a sovereign people’s indignation when the Supreme Court (SC), after decades of litigation, upholds the Sandiganbayan’s decision to dismiss for reasons of insufficient evidence (?) the P200 billion plunder case against the Marcos family? And where is the outcry for the P203 billion realty tax the SC has decided the Marcos family should pay but doesn’t?

If we want to be truly sovereign, we must solve our own problems. If we want justice, and we should, we must demand it from our own judicial system. And if the system is part of the problem, the solution is not to cry on the ICC’s shoulders but to work to reform our failed justice system. I’d like to believe we have more than a few good men and women in our legal system.

Junior has rightly asserted sovereignty over the drug-war probe. It’s now for us Filipinos to see to it that our justice system does the probing with integrity and bring those found guilty to justice. We can neither allow ourselves to be insulted by the ICC nor to be effectively neutralized by our rulers so they can do their thing with impunity.

Speaking of impunity, we must do whatever is necessary to put a stop to it. A day of reckoning must come and a self-respecting sovereign people must be the ones to bring it on.

The talents that job seekers possess and the skills that businesses demand do not match. The educational system frequently falls short of providing students with the knowledge and skills needed by the labor market. Finding suitable employment becomes difficult as a result. These issues demand a multifaceted strategy. However, there is one that might be successful and beneficial: a thorough improvement of what we have already begun.

To fulfill the growing demand for trained workers across several industrial booms, industries all over the country primarily rely on technical and vocational education. Integration of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in training centers, senior high school and college education is crucial for preparing trainees/students in an era of quick technical breakthroughs and a constantly shifting labor market.

A considerable number of out-of-school youth, referring to individuals who are not enrolled in any formal educational institution and who are not actively pursuing any form of education or training, should be freely admitted to Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) without a scholastic standing requirement in a special program. Out-of-school youth are often more susceptible to exploitation, including engaging in informal or hazardous work, being paid low wages, and facing poor working conditions. They may lack awareness of their rights or be more desperate for employment due to their economic circumstances. They also have the right to be equipped with skills and education. A partnership of Alternative Learning System of DepEd and Tesda is also a good formative step where academic and technical attributes of the trainees/students are all in one program. More training centers should be established in every barangay. This shall be operated by Tesda with more qualified instructors, equipment, infrastructure and budget. This shall also include scholarships, school feeding programs, and addressing barriers such as poverty, lack of transportation, and distance to training centers/schools. Many barangays in urban areas are home of multi-industries. Building partnerships with them assures the success of the TVET program. Those who live in far-flung barangays can establish a memorandum of agreement with urban barangays.

For the youth unable to pursue further education, TVET is frequently seen as a backup plan. Technical and vocational careers are stigmatized in society since it is often believed that they offer less prestige and income potential than white-collar occupations. Many trainees/students, as well as their families, are unaware of the variety of careers that can be pursued through TVET. A poor grasp of the possible advantages and prospects of technical and vocational jobs is caused by a lack of career guidance and counseling services. Due to these issues, a concerted effort will be made to promote TVET as a viable career route and provide career assistance and counseling in communities and schools.

TVET programs should be developed and updated in conjunction with stakeholders and industry professionals. This guarantees that the curriculum is current and in line with the most recent technical developments and industry standards. This can be achieved through partnerships with relevant industries, offering internships and apprenticeships, and involving industry professionals in the curriculum development and teaching process. By keeping the programs up-to-date and relevant, training centers and schools can ensure that their graduates are well prepared for the demands of the job market. With proper implementation and industry alignment, TVET training centers and schools have the potential to revolutionize education and empower out-of-school youth and students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

(Berlin, July 25, 2023) - Azerbaijani authorities have arrested a prominent opposition leader and scholar, Gubad Ibadoghlu, on spurious criminal charges, Human Rights Watch said today.

On July 24, 2023, Baku's Narimanov District Court sent Ibadoghlu for four months of pretrial detention on charges of production, acquisition or sale of counterfeit mo

Breath-taking landscapes, artistically trimmed trees, spotlessly-clean streets, well-organized systems, courteous and helpful people, healthy and delectable cuisine... what’s there not to love about Japan? Oh yes, there’s one minus factor—Japan is one of the most expensive places in the world. However, it definitely is a country to visit. The redeeming factor I can think of is that going to Japan has become more affordable these days with the coming in of low-cost airlines.

First on my mind is AirAsia, the no-frills airline which recently commenced flights to Narita from Mactan. My travel friends and I were privileged to be onboard for the inaugural flight early this month. As is traditional, there was a water canon salute on the runway shortly before take-off. AirAsia offers low fares and the invariable basics in air travel. Meals, drinks and snacks are available for sale onboard at reasonable prices, and service is excellent. AirAsia’s senior sales executive Larry Luna proudly shares that AirAsia has been voted as the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the 14th consecutive year. Flight to Narita was less than five hours and since Japan time is an hour ahead, it was early evening when we arrived, just in time for a healthy Japanese dinner. I’ve been to Tokyo several times before but this time around I decided to be more “eagle-eyed” because the place has been getting rave reviews from all over and I thought it was time to see it with “new eyes.”

The next two days were a flurry of activities in and around the city. Tokyo’s hot spots were not to be missed. The Sky Tree, a broadcasting and observation tower standing all of 634 meters was one of them. It is the tallest tower in the world and the third tallest structure after Merdeka118 in Malaysia (#2) and Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the record holder. Among the attractions there are the Sumida Aquarium, Pokémon Center, cafes, restaurants and shopping areas.

Definitely in our list was the Asakusa Temple (also known as Sensoji), the oldest religious building in the city. The entire complex is made up of the main temple building dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Compassion and Mercy), the five-storey pagoda, the shopping street Nakimise and two famous gates—the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its distinctive giant red chochin lantern, and the Hozomon Gate, the two-storey inner gate infront of the temple. I’ve visited the place in past trips but now it seems more lively and crowded. Not surprising since it has an estimated 20 million or so visitors every year.

A “must-experience” in Tokyo is going with the huge crowd at the Shibuya Crossing. Touted as the busiest intersection in the world, it is where droves of pedestrians scramble to cross the street at all hours. Quite a sight like herds of animals on their way to somewhere! (Pardon the animal comparison.) In one corner of the area is the statue of Hachiko, a Japanese Akita dog known for his loyalty to his master so much so that even after his master died the dog continued (for nine years) to wait for him at their appointed place in Shibuya.

For a dose of local color, we spent time at the Tsukiji Seafood Market where all kinds of seafood goodies were on display. We took in the sight and the smell of raw, cooked, grilled, dried, pickled and smoked Japanese favorites and even tasted some. Later in the day, we strolled around the famed Ginza district to feel its pulse and for a bit of shopping.

Japan’s most famous destination is the iconic Mount Fuji, an active volcano (last recorded eruption was 1707) and the country’s tallest peak at 3,776 meters. Our tour guide brought us to Lake Kawaguchico, one of the five Fuji lakes for a vantage look at the celebrated mountain. We took a boat ride around the lovely lake and found the scenery postcard-pretty. What a feast for the eyes! Shimmering waters against a backdrop of white clouds delicately sitting on the majestic crater of Mt. Fuji!

For most women a trip is never complete without shopping time. Gotemba Premium Outlets answered this need. As in all Japan establishments, the place was impeccably setup with the shoppers’ comfort and convenience in mind. Luckily, many stores were having bargain sales so we were able to shop—yes, shop in one of the most expensive places in the world!

Till next time, domo arigato, Japan.

STARTING next month, the local government unit (LGU) of Tuburan in northwest Cebu will no longer collect unsegregated waste.

The LGU stated that it will begin enforcing its "No Segregation, No Collection" policy on August 1, 2023, emphasizing that garbage trucks would only collect trash that had been divided into solid and non-solid waste.

This is because the machine that recycles trash will begin to operate in the town.

This is the government's way of reducing the pollution and helping to preserve the environment.

Starting next month, the municipal garbage collectors will pick up the biodegradable waste in the morning and the non-biodegradable waste in the afternoon.

The local government hoped that the community would cooperate and comply with the rule to obtain a cleaner, more orderly environment.

"Atong suportahan ug sugdan sa atong tagsa-tagsa ka panimalay, aron palibot nato limpyo ug puy-an nga haruhay kay sa Tuburan, walay hugawan," the LGU said.

(Let's support and start in our individual homes to make our environment clean and to live comfortably because in Tuburan, there is no “untidy person”).(ANV, TPT)

UTAH Jazz star Jordan Clarkson will don the jersey of the Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming Fiba World Cup as he finally committed to join the squad. He will arrive in the country on Aug. 6, 2023 to participate in the preparations for the prestigious meet.

Clarkson’s participation in the Fiba World Cup was initially cast in doubt when Gilas coach Chot Reyes imposed a deadline on the players’ arrival in the Philippines. However, catastrophe was averted as a compromise was reached between representatives of the two camps, paving the way for the Philippines’ most decorated player to take part in the World Cup.

Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, has already suited up twice for the Philippines in World Cup qualifiers where he averaged 25.0 points, 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds.

The Philippines has a tough road ahead as it is in the same group as the Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the next round. / JNP

State weather bureau PAGASA reported Tuesday afternoon that Super Typhoon Egay has maintained its strength while posing an imminent threat to northern Luzon. 

According to estimates from the Department of Finance, “the implementation of the MVUC reform will have minimal impact on public transport fares in 2024” of between seven to 42 cents.

“The existence of idle funds in (Government Financial Institutions) is a myth created to justify the diversion of bank funds to (the Maharlika Investment Corporation).  If there are indeed idle surplus funds in the GFIs, then their leadership is not doing their job in maximizing use of funds,” Villanueva said. 

A MAN was arrested after being accused by the three women of following them while they were at a mall in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

The suspect was identified as Jerome Lobitaña, 40, a native of Borbon town in northern Cebu who has been separated from his wife.

The women, who requested anonymity, saw Lobitaña following them and immediately called the police for help out of their concern for safety.

Police Major Jonathan Bethoven Taneo, chief of the Mambaling Police Station 11, said the incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Taneo claimed that Lobitaña followed the women around the shopping center until they exited to the parking lot.

During the course of the police inquiry, it was discovered that the suspect was previously convicted for drug offense.

In his defense, Lobitaña said what happened was purely coincidental and it just happened that he had the same direction with the girls.

Lobitaña is currently detained at the Mambaling Police Station.(BBT, TPT)