IT-BPM industry bracing for EDSA rehab impact
The head of the country’s largest information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry group said they view the planned rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) as an “urgent problem,” potentially severely disrupting the $38-billion industry.
“It’s certainly an issue and has caused some concern because much of our industry is already on hybrid work, reporting to the office two to three times a week on average,” said Jonathan Madrid, president of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines.
Madrid told reporters during a press conference earlier this week that the industry is bracing for whatever changes the government plans for Edsa and other major traffic choke points like the Guadalupe Bridge.
“We will have to adapt and show the same kind of adaptability and resilience and flexibility as before,” he said.
He was referring to how the industry adjusted during the height of COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.
Madrid said work flexibility is here to stay, noting how the industry has adapted to new norms and continues to thrive despite ongoing challenges.
The government initially planned to begin rehabilitation of the major arterial highway in Metro Manila at the end of March. But the schedule was subsequently moved to April, then May and later to June.
It has since been postponed indefinitely due to concerns over serious traffic disruptions.
