Artificial Intelligence

Sen. Bam: Protect BPOs to secure jobs of Filipinos, livelihood of families

A senator reiterated the need to guard the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector from external and internal threats that may lead to loss of livelihood for thousands of Filipinos and their families.

“Libu-libong Pilipino at kanilang pamilya ang babalik sa kahirapan kung hindi natin poprotektahan ang BPO sector laban sa mga banta na maaaring makaapekto rito,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in his speech during the inauguration of the Global Payments Inc. office in Mandaluyong City.

As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam has conducted hearings to look into and craft solutions for the threats that affect the BPO sector, most especially artificial intelligence (AI).

Sen. Bam also committed to block provisions in the second package of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law that could affect the employment of thousands of Filipino workers in the BPO sector.

In his speech, Sen. Bam also renewed his commitment to help BPO companies through legislation to enable them to expand and provide more employment to Filipinos.

“We hope that we make it easier for you to do business here, we make it profitable for you to do business here so in turn you can provide jobs our countrymen need,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam underscored the need to support the BPO sector as any slowdown in the industry could lead to loss of jobs for thousands of Filipinos.

“More centers that open up, more centers to expand means more families will partake in the gains that our economy is currently experiencing. We’re here to make sure that this industry will continue to grow,” added Sen. Bam.

Recently, Sen. Bam was recognized as BPO champion by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) for his contribution to develop and strengthen IT and BPO sector through legislation.

The IBPAP presented Sen. Bam with the IBPAP-PLDT Azure Flare For Industry Luminary award during the IBPAP Flare Awards 2018.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Protect 1.4M BPO jobs from impending threats

A senator reminded relevant government agencies to protect the 1.4 million jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector from identified threats and prepare for the next Senate hearing.

“Our resource speakers have identified 3 major threats to jobs in the BPO sector: Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), the tax reform law and the shifting economic policies of other countries. We must prepare for these threats and not be caught flat-footed,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, who recently held a second hearing on threats to the BPO sector as the chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“Hindi maaaring mawalan ng kabuhayan ang Pilipino, lalo na sa panahon ngayon,” he added.

During the first Senate hearing on the threat of AI, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) mentioned that they are anticipating a decline in demand for low-skilled jobs in the IT-BPO industry of about 43,000 jobs by 2022.

On the bright side, there is potential to open up 388,000 jobs for mid-skilled tasks, and 309,000 jobs for high-skilled tasks also by 2022, jobs that Sen. Bam hopes the Filipino workforce can be ready for.

“The clear solution is to retrain our workers and upgrade their skills to be viable for higher job levels. Our training centers and academic institutions must start offering courses for these higher-skilled BPO jobs. Kailangan din na mayroong scholarships at TESDA vouchers,” said Sen. Bam, who also pushed the free college law as principal sponsor in the Senate.

However, Sen. Bam says the government agencies are not working quick enough.

“I want to see urgency in our agencies to move this forward quickly and with purpose. This is the first time in years that the BPO industry will be at risk. We need to protect our countrymen’s jobs,” said Sen. Bam.

 

Sen. Bam to probe job threats in BPO sector

Sen. Bam Aquino will examine the threats to jobs in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the effects of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

After receiving reports that the BPO sector may need to reduce their workforce or set aside expansion plans in the country, Sen. Bam set a second hearing on the issue on Monday (March 12).

“The BPO sector is a major source of livelihood for Filipino families. We cannot afford to give away job security and job opportunities, especially with the rising prices of goods,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam revealed that several BPOs may relocate, abort expansion, or re-shore workers due to the effects of the TRAIN Law.

“When we first conducted the hearing last year, AI emerged as the main threat to our BPO industry. Now, we saw the need to include the government tax reform program as it is also taking a toll on the sector,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

During the TRAIN’s period of amendments, Sen. Bam pushed for the retention of a special tax rate for regional operating headquarters and regional headquarters (ROHQs/RHQs). However, the provision was vetoed by Malacanang, much to the dismay of the BPO sector.

Sen. Bam said the veto will lead to an increase in cost of doing business, which will affect the status of 5,000 workers and prevent other BPOs from setting up shop in the Philippines.

On the part of artificial intelligence, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) mentioned that they are anticipating a decline in demand for low-skilled jobs in the IT-BPO industry of about 43,000 jobs by 2022.

However, Sen. Bam allayed fears by calling on government agencies and private companies to work together to upgrade skills and abilities of Filipino workers through training and education.

Sen. Bam emphasized the opportunity presented in the IBPAP report that if the existing IT-BPO workforce and if fresh college graduates are re-skilled and up-skilled, “we can meet the anticipated increase in demand of 388,000 jobs for mid-skilled tasks, and 309,000 jobs for high-skilled tasks in 2022.”

Sen. Bam: Prepare for AI takeover of PH jobs

Instead of focusing on the threats of artificial intelligence (AI), Sen. Bam Aquino said the business community can harness AI to create more jobs, increase competitiveness, and improve products and services.

“While AI may very well be our competition in the marketplace of jobs, they might also be unintended rivals that push us to evolve, become more efficient, to learn and to relearn,” Sen. Bam stressed in his speech during the International Quality Conference, which was held at Okada Manila in Paranaque.

 ”And I hope this pushes us, not to shut our doors, but rather to kickstart our competitive spirit and develop our workforce for the future,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also commended the Asia Pacific Quality Organization, the Global Benchmarking Network (GBN) and other participants of the event for tackling how to harness the latest technology for the development of various industries.

As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam spearheaded an inquiry on the effects of AI in the country’s present workforce, especially in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

During the hearing, it was discovered that AI will affect around 40,000 jobs in the contact center industry next year. However, it was projected that around 250,000 to 300,000 fresh employment opportunities will be created for those with data analysts and data programming skills. Sen. Bam these jobs can be opened up to Filipinos who are willing to learn and relearn.

 “The key is to be prepared. We must prepare our workforce through adequate, accessible, affordable training, re-training and education,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the cooperation of between the private sector, academe and government agencies is critical to the evolution and development of the Filipino workforce.

Bam to schools: Prepare workforce for AI job termination

With the advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the labor industry, a number of existing jobs in the market is at risk.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology on the effects of AI to current jobs, the Union Network International-Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC) told committee chairman Sen. Bam Aquino that around 60 percent of work, especially in the business process outsourcing industry, will be affected.

 However, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) mentioned that around 40,000 workers in the contact center industry will be lost.

 “The best way to protect ourselves is to move our workers up the skill ladder. This is best done by having opportunities for education and by upgrading skills, retooling and retraining industry workers,” said Sen. Bam.

 “We cannot wait for this downturn in jobs to happen before we prepare. Kailangang handa na tayo ngayon,” stressed Sen. Bam as he called on education institutions to check if the skills they’re providing are the ones needed by industry workers to upgrade their abilities to the next level.

 “This way, we can ensure that we will able to maximize opportunities presented in Artificial Intelligence,” said Sen. Bam, adding that around 250,000 to 300,000 fresh jobs will be created once contact center workers are given the capability to perform higher-level jobs, such as data analysis and data programming.

“Mahalaga ring matiyak na mayroong academic-industry linkage. Kaya ba ng ating mga eskuwelahan na itulak ang kakayahan ng ating mga kababayan upang gawin ang mga bagong trabahong ito?” Sen. Bam questioned.

 Sen. Bam said the BPO industry must work hand-in-hand with concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure that the country is prepared for any eventuality if the implementation of AI goes into full swing.

Sen. Bam to look into AI threat to jobs for Filipinos

Sen. Bam Aquino is set to conduct a hearing into the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) to jobs in the country.
 
“Every job created for Filipinos is important. We have to guard against trends that will take jobs away from our countrymen,” said Sen. Bam, who will conduct the probe on Tuesday (August 1) as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 
 
“Gusto nating malaman kung ano ang epekto ng artificial intelligence sa employment, lalo na sa ating business process outsourcing (BPO) o call center sector,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 344, to conduct an inquiry on the government’s plan and initiatives to maximize the benefits of developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
 
The senator expressed alarm over the growing presence of Chatbots and the emergence of systems capable of referring questions to human operators and learning from their responses.
 
“These systems use artificial intelligence and are capable of performing the tasks of human employees, putting their livelihood at risk, especially in the call center industry,” said Sen. Bam.
 
In 2016, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that 49 percent of all employment in the Philippines faces a high risk of automation in the next couple of decades.
 
Based on research conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC), around $47 billion will be spent on AI-related applications globally by 2020, especially in banking, healthcare and retail sectors.
 
According to Jubert Daniel Alberto of IDC Philippines, the rise of AI will definitely affect the BPO industry that currently employs around 1.2 million Filipinos.

Sen. Bam: AI a threat to Philippine jobs

Is the government ready to address possible negative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on jobs in the country?

Sen. Bam Aquino has submitted Senate Resolution No. 344, to conduct an inquiry on the government’s plan and initiatives to maximize the benefits of developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

“We want to know how developments in Artificial Intelligence will affect jobs in the country and what government plans are to address possible negative impact on current and future employment for Filipinos,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

According to Sen. Bam, reports on the impact of artificial intelligence have noted an increased presence and capacity of Chatbots and the emergence of systems capable of referring questions to human operators and learning from their responses.

 “These systems use artificial intelligence and are capable of performing the tasks of human employees, putting their employment in peril,” said Sen. Bam.

 The International Labor Organization (ILO) also released a working paper in July 2016, claiming that 49 percent of all employment in the Philippines faces a high risk of automation in the next couple of decades.

“This early, we should be preparing for any eventuality that may occur when automation goes into full swing,” Sen. Bam said.

In his resolution, Sen. Bam noted that Artificial intelligence is one of the emerging technologies emphasized in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, with the government engaging in more collaborative research and development activities and invest in infrastructure buildup.

 The Department of Science and Technology is tasked to develop an AI Program in thePhilippines, particularly to optimize mass production and effective operations in the country’s manufacturing sector.

 

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