Philippine Government Concludes V-Shaped Recovery For Businesses Affected By COVID-19

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), IT and Business Process Association Philippines (IBPAP) and Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP), reports a V-shaped economic recovery for the Philippines in 2021 with heightened opportunities for new and existing BPOs.

Progress on the Country’s Priority Projects

Since the first quarter of 2020 leading up to the declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine in major cities in the Philippines, health system capacity has been a top priority followed by the implementation of intensified infrastructure and telecom projects, freeing up of highly skilled human resources and meeting the increased demand for IT services. Among these specific steps include securing of quality and medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and more hospital beds, increasing cremation capacity, conducting of mass testing for COVID-19,  registering up to 112% investments in infrastructure, transport and manufacturing, nationwide installation of 60,000 km of fiber optic network and creation of support facilities for 3rd Telecom and satellite-based connectivity solution with highly manufactured content. On top of these, 9 new I.T. centers and parks were proclaimed nationwide to accompany new and expanding BPO-ITM players.

Business Continuity Plans In Place

While non-essential businesses are temporarily closed under strict levels of quarantine namely Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ), essential businesses such as mining, banks and capital markets, export and BPO companies, manufacturing, e-commerce, repair and maintenance, delivery services and housing and office services remain open under these strict levels to keep the economy running. Specifically, BPOs have continued operations even with the onset of the pandemic while maintaining the safety of its employees through on-site accommodation and work-from-home arrangements. Public transport is also limited to private cars and shuttles for employees and frontliners. 

Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus For the Economy

House Bill No. 6815 or the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus For the Economy (ARISE) has been approved by the House of Representatives in its third reading which covers 1.3 trillion budget to cover for economic loss from the pandemic and to speed up the country’s growth. This post-pandemic stimulus package will allocate 20 billion for mass testing of COVID 19 in 2020-2021, 110 billion assistance for critically-impacted businesses, freelancers, self-employed and repatriated OFWs, 30 billion for the TUPAD program by the Department of Labor and Employment and 42 billion for education subsidies. Structural, financial and sectoral interventions are also in place for the benefit of MSMEs and affected industries such as tourism,  and transportation.

Positive Standpoint For BPOs Investing In PH

Inflation rates in the Philippines are also low and stable with a competitive salary for customer service representatives at par with India and other ASEAN countries. The Philippine  BPO-ITM industry has also recorded a 5.8 percent growth in headcount and 7.1% in revenues in 2019 amidst political and economic challenges such as change of government policies and the rise of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and information architecture. 

For more updates on the Philippines’ business climate, visit www.dti.gov.ph. 

The compound annual gross rate of the IT-BPM services industry in the Philippines grew to only 3.5% compared to the 8.9% projected rate because of economic recession and geopolitical factors, however, there is a potential for the IT-BPM services market to increase its headcount by 7.0% and revenue by 7.5% per annum between 2020-2022 according to research by Everest Group. The Department of Information and Communications Technology saw this opportunity as a time to transition to  faster, reliable and sustainable digital services infused in a project called the Digital Cities 2025.

ICT Enabled Government

Easier access of government services online for citizens, other local government units and businesses are in place as well as an I.T. systems management support. A secure connectivity and cloud hosting will be available for entities to exchange data with government facilities online. Digital signatures will also be allowed while collaboration tools and video conferencing applications will consistently be used for communications.

ICT Capacity Development

To upscale talent skills and productivity, arrangements like work-from-home and online classes are available for students and the workforce. Digital learning management systems and content will be accessible by anyone with an internet connection. The DICT IT Academy is also up and running for students and workers needing training for digital skills needed for long-term and short-term employment. Free WiFi sites in 1,000 public hospitals, government agencies and rural health units and WiFi hotspots in nearly 60 COVID-19 testing and quarantine centers across the country are also in place for speed up health and emergency responses and demand for job application and business to government transactions online.

Digital Cities For IT-BPM StartUps and Expansion

The business climate in the Philippines is relatively stable thanks to developing digital cities in the archipelago that have low COVID-19 cases and a suitable business environment with low cost investments in office space and reliable I.T. systems. The 25 digital cities’ profiles can be viewed at www.digitalcitiesph.com to help investors determine the potential location for their business without having to make site visits. The Philippine government will also be ready to provide technical assistance whenever the need arises.

IT-BPM Demand In The Philippines

David Leechiu, co-founder and CEO of Leechiu Consultants and IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines board of trustee reported that the IT-BPM industry occupied 596 square kilometer of office spaces across cities in 2019. ITM-BPM still holds the biggest share of office space investments in May 2020 with 37% of office spaces occupied across digital cities. 

Philippines still has the upperhand when it comes to IT investments because of its low attrition rate in talents at 60% compared to the US and India that is around 130%.Philippine salary is also 75% of the cost of labor in the U.S., making investments in the digital cities a wise choice of investment among BPOs around the world. 

Leverage your business at low investment cost and with a rich talent pool in the Philippines. Contact Tahche at +1 347-467-1066 for your outsourcing needs.

The Department of Labor and Employment-Region 7 (DOLE-7) has recorded 160,000 employees in Central Visayas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the workers had flexible work arrangements while others were out of work because of retrenching and temporary closures of business establishments.

However, Tahche remains firm and compliant to new government safety measures against COVID-19 which included strict monitoring and reissuing of limited quarantine passes in each community to reduce the number of people going out of their houses and a granular lockdown of communities with high cases of COVID-19.

Tahche recently had a rapid testing for all its employees to combat the threat of the virus and maintained its day-today operations through work-from-home arrangements and work in the office. The office is also disinfected regularly for the safety of employees needing to visit the office to secure documents and work on other tasks that can only be done inside the office. 

Aside from these, Tahche continues to support its clients and community while staying safe by conducting online job opportunities for qualified candidates.

June 15, Cebu City, Philippines – as part of its Health Contingency Plans during this pandemic, TAHCHE was able to do a successful onsite RAPID testing of all its employees at their Greenery Office in Cebu City.

This is part of TAHCHE’s efforts to keep all employees safe and healthy during these times as well as to comply with the health protocols of the City of Cebu.

TAHCHE even before the period of quarantine has adopted Health Contingencies to protect its employees and their families. TAHCHE is ready to “adapt” and “rebuild” its team into the “new normal”.

Thank you to UCMed and Pacific Cross for partnering with us during this historic event.

The Philippines is one of 173 countries that were reported to have COVID-19. With this, the country had to take several countermeasures to sustain the life of its citizens as well as its economy. It was at this point that the country was placed on lockdown and its numerous cities and municipalities implemented more stringent rules and regulations to keep the infected population from propagating.    

Tahche Outsourcing Services Inc. is a business process outsourcing (BPO) company based in Cebu City, Philippines and on March 16, Cebu City was placed under General Community Quarantine.

The order of community quarantine caused the prompt closure of several businesses with only a few exemptions allowed; BPOs together with pharmaceutical and food companies were allowed to continue provided that they are able to implement systems that will ensure the safety of their employees.

Business Process Outsourcing Meaning   

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the engagement of external services for your company’s needs. These services include but are not limited to customer service, human resources, and even sales and marketing. By outsourcing work, instead of posting a job vacancy, hiring, interviewing and sifting through numerous job applications yourself, third party providers, will do all of these for you and even more.

What Tahche Did

For Tahche, complying with these requirements for continued operation was easy as Tahche is prepared and will always be prepared when it comes to employee safety. Armed with the objective of zero exposure to the virus without ceasing the delivery of quality service to their clients, Tahche continues to battle the pandemic with the following business continuity plan.

A flexible schedule was implemented to maximize their workforce while providing their employees with the necessary precautionary materials to keep the virus at bay. Sanitizers and masks were provided for employees who continued to work in the office and the workplace was continually sanitized. In addition, Tahche prepared itself for a work from home system where their employees were provided with the necessary materials for them to be able to continue working even within the comforts of their homes. With these systems, even if the city was placed on lockdown Tahche was still able to continue providing quality service to their most beloved clients.

A Veteran in Providing Outsourcing Services

Tahche Outsourcing Services Inc., is a BPO Company that has planted its roots in the industry for decades now. Tahche provides human resources (hr) outsourcing services, legal outsourcing services, telemarketing outsourcing services, management outsourcing services, information technology outsourcing services, software outsourcing services and many more.

Tahche will handle job recruitments and conduct consultation meetings, initiate employee search, job postings and screening assessments. Tahche will provide for your staff needs and build a team tailor fit for you. In addition to that Tahche will take care of all your employees, their contracts and even the space and equipment needed for their services. Tahche will handle the small things that matter and ensure your compliance to tax and statutory remittances so that you won’t have to worry.

Rebuild your business with Tahche Outsourcing Services Inc., and focus on the essentials to make your company grow, contact Tahche Outsourcing Services Inc. through +1347-467-1066 or email Tahche at info@tahche.ph to get a free quote.

We are excited that Cadsourcing has asked Tahche Outsourcing Services Incorporated to assist their employees to work from home and practice social distancing.

These are crazy times and this pandemic has changed our lives. Working from home might be the new normal for many of us but we are still excited to help any of our clients achieve their plans for their business and especially their employees.

COVID-19 in Cebu curfew covers local businesses, exempts food, pharmaceutical, BPO companies

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has placed the city under general community quarantine following Executive Order No. 52 effective last March 16, Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the key provisions in the order is the implementation of a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. This covers not only the city’s constituents but also the operation hours of local businesses. The Executive Order states that establishments can adopt flexible schedules to accommodate their staff and customers.

The Philippines is one of 173 countries and territories that have reported having COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) cases as of March 19, according to the World Health Organization. As the national government had already pushed for a lockdown starting with Metro Manila—with local government units expected to follow—business groups have issued a joint statement last week expressing their support for the government, the nation’s health workers, and encouraging the Filipino people to do the same.

“We strongly urge our members and the public to fully cooperate with the government and our health workers in ensuring early detection and prompt medical response. We are determined to ensure that the health and welfare of our employees, customers, clients and stakeholders is not adversely affected or compromised.”

“With focused attention and unified efforts, we believe that the resiliency and determination of our nation in overcoming the threats posed by COVID-19 will prevail,” the statement added.

For TAHCHE, a list of precautionary measures has been shared to its employees and clients but they have continued to  encourage them to take other precautions as mandated by the national and local government, and as deemed necessary.

Current State/Plan for COVID-19

Anticipated State/Plan