MANILA – The Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) industry saw revenues climb 1.4 percent in 2020 even as the health pandemic deeply affected the economy, according to data from the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).
Rey Untal, president and chief-executive-officer of IBPAP, said the industry generated a total of $26.7 billion in 2020, as BPO companies implemented flexible work arrangements to ensure continued operations amid the pandemic.
Meanwhile, BPO companies also hired 1.8 percent more employees in 2020, for a total 1.32 million direct employment in the Philippines.
“Noong tiningnan po namin ang statistics noong 2020, nakakagulat po at kami po ay lumaki pa rin kahit hindi ganoong kalakihan ang aming pag-grow. I think from a headcount standpoint, lumago po kami ng 1.8 percent and another 1.4 percent po sa revenue,” he said on Wednesday.
Untal thanked the government for classifying BPO employees as essential workers, which allowed them to continue working during the pandemic.
For 2021, Untal said the industry is anticipated to grow between 5 to 6.5 percent.
Based on IBPAP’s survey, 87 percent of BPO companies expect to continue growing this year and these companies expect growth of between 5 to 15 percent.(ABS-CBN News)
