PH IT-BPM firms fear sector’s fate under Trump
A local trade association of Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) firms raised concerns on Monday over the future of the $38-billion industry over the next five years, citing fears of a potential business slowdown under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
“With 70 percent of the Philippine IT-BPM industry’s client base originating from the United States, the possibility of renewed protectionist policies under a Trump administration poses both challenges and opportunities,” the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said in a statement.
During Trump’s first term, offshoring slowed significantly, with industry growth decelerating to 2.5 percent in 2017 and 3.9 percent in 2018, according to the group.
These growth rates are a stark contrast to the 12.3-percent growth recorded in 2016, when Trump was first elected.
“A push for reshoring and nearshoring could impact the Philippines, making it imperative for IBPAP to double down [on] repositioning the country as a global leader in high-value services such as banking, financial services, health care and digital transformation,” the group said.
Earlier in January, IBPAP reported that the revenues of the local IT-BPM industry reached $38 billion in 2024, with the sector providing 1.82 million jobs.
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In the long term, IBPAP projects the sector to generate $59 billion in annual revenue by 2028, with employment rising to 2.5 million by the same year.
Meanwhile, IBPAP president Jonathan Madrid underscored the importance of strong and diverse leadership in ensuring the industry’s resilience.
“Governance starts at the top. A diverse board is not just about representation, it is about resilience. The more perspectives we have in scanning the horizon, the better prepared we are for opportunities and challenges,” he said.
Madrid also stressed the need for continuous adaptation and innovation to sustain growth.
“What got us to $38 billion in revenue and 1.82 million jobs may not get us to where we want to be. We must adapt, innovate, and lead the next chapter of our industry’s success,” he added.
The IBPAP elected its board of trustees for the 2025-2027 term on March 6 during the organization’s annual membership meeting at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig.
The newly elected board includes industry leaders such as Ayhee Campos of Infosys BPM Philippines and Malaysia, Nicki Agcaoili of Carelon Global Solutions Philippines, Tonichi Parekh of Concentrix Philippines, Ambe Tierro of Accenture Philippines, and Sanjiv Gupta of IBM Philippines.
Representing nonindustry sectors are Kaye Bondoc dela Cruz of PLDT Enterprise, David Leechiu of Leechiu Property Consultants, and Sandeep Uppal of HSBC Philippines.
Meanwhile, partner industry representatives include Haidee Enriquez from the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Marlyn Montano from the Animation Council of the Philippines, Alvin Juban from the Game Development Association of the Philippines, Paolo L’ao from the Global In-House Center Council Philippines, Vincent Remo from the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines Inc., and Jonathan de Luzuriaga from the Philippine Software Industry Association.
