Untapped but world-class ICT work force chips in P1.26B to Davao City economy

DAVAO CITY—THE Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector here has a pool of globally-competitive skills, but for the most part, remained untapped, the ICT Davao said.

Yet, its inventory of 70,000 ICT workers hired by companies and government offices would roughly contribute P1.26 billion to the city economy, said Belinda Torres, vice president of ICT Davao.

In a belated Philippine Information Agency dispatch, the ICT Davao said the financial contribution to the city economy was based on the conservative assumption that the 70,000 workers have an average monthly salary of P18,000.

While the total number of ICT workers remained largely untapped although they have been employed, the ICT Davao and the city government projected a need to increase it to as many as 150,000 by 2028 to meet the demands of local business establishments and government and private offices.

He said small businesses offering ICT services have sustained their operations even during the Covid-19 pandemic because of the continued local demand, as well as the need by foreign companies for talents such as those that could be offered by the Davao City-based ICT personnel.

“The talents that we have groomed here and grew here are more than capable of being able to build something of value to the global stage,” the PIA dispatch said, quoting John Naranjo, owner of the software development company called Ingenuity.

He said the ICT MSMES (micro, small and medium scale enterprises) like his Ingenuity “are thriving because of these talented and creative ICT workers.” He said nearly all of its clients are overseas-based companies.

“I would say 80 percent to 90 percent of our clients are international clients. It was actually during the pandemic we got busy with local projects because we felt we were needed by our countrymen during that time,” Naranjo said.