Both the government and the private sector in Cebu City should work together to help the city regain its position as among the top outsourcing destinations in the world.

Avinash Vashistha, chief executive of London-based strategic consulting and investment advisory firm Tholons, stressed this during a meeting with representatives from the private sector and Mega Cebu local chief executives last May 17, 2018.

Cebu City was declared by Tholons, as the top outsourcing destination in the year 2008. However, when Tholons incorporated digital transformation and innovation in the criteria, Cebu’s standing dropped to 8th in 2015, 7th in 2016, and 12th in 2017, eliminating it from the top 10 outsourcing destinations.

Given this, Vashistha said the Philippines should optimize its workforce by enhancing their skills in robotic processed automation/consumer relation, data analytics, mobile app testing, digital marketing and innovation.

As regards the government, Vashistha stressed that Metro Cebu, local government units, especially Cebu City, should aggressively promote entrepreneurship and startups. Industry players, meanwhile, should include innovation and startups as part of their operations.

He also encouraged Mega Cebu leaders to inculcate digital transformation and innovation to support IT-BPM because the industry itself is enabled and powered by technology.

“If we want to be competitive, we really need to catch up,” said Wilfredo Sa-a Jr, executive director of Cebu IT-BPM Organization (CIB.O) in his welcome address.

The Governance and Linkages Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI-G&L) seeks to foster responsive institutions and an engaged citizenry through awards and recognition, good governance and leadership development programs, and active linkages and platforms of engagement and collaboration.