WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report reveals significant recovery in the Philippines Travel & Tourism sector in 2021

Travel & Tourism jobs in the Philippines increased by 20.5% 

Fourth fastest Travel & Tourism GDP growth rate for any country in the world in 2021 

MANILA, Philippines: The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report revealed last year the Philippine’s Travel & Tourism contribution to the nation’s economy climbed 129.5.% year on year, to reach US$ 41 billion. 

Following an 80% decline, this impressive rise saw it ranked as the world’s fourth fastest growing economy during 2021. 

News of the sector’s growing revival from the pandemic was revealed today by Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, at its prestigious Global Summit in the Philippines.  

It was delivered in the capital, Manila, before more than 1,000 delegates from across the global Travel & Tourism sector, including CEOs, business leaders, government ministers, travel experts and the international media. 

WTTC’s Economic Impact Report (EIR) for the Philippines shows that in 2021, the sector supported 7.8 million jobs, representing an substantial 20.5% rise in 2020, compared with a global increase of 6.7%. 

Before the pandemic, the Philippines Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP was ​​22.5% of the total economy (worth US$92.6 billion). However, due to damaging travel restrictions it then plunged by 80.7% to a mere US$ 17.8 billion, dropping to just a 4.8% share towards the country’s GDP.  

But in 2021 this rose to US$ 41 billion, representing a 10.4% share of the nation’s total economy, which signals the recovery of the sector is well underway. 

The latest EIR also takes a forward look at the sector with the global tourism body forecasting that the Philippines Travel & Tourism contribution to GDP will grow by 6.7% over the next decade, exceeding the expected country's overall economy average growth rate of just 5.6%. 

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our latest EIR for the Philippines signals the astonishing recovery of the country’s Travel & Tourism sector. 

“Resulting in a massive employment boost for the sector, leading to the recovery of 1.3 million more jobs compared to the previous year. Our expert analysis shows that the economy has turned a corner and is firmly on the road to recovery.” 

 

As a result, WTTC forecasts that the Philippines Travel & Tourism contribution to GDP could be worth in excess of US$ 155 billion in 2032, accounting for 21.4% of the whole economy. 

With Travel & Tourism employment forecast to grow annually by an average of 3% over the next 10 years, nearly three million new jobs could be created, accounting for 21.5% of all jobs in the Philippines. 

WTTC’s 2022 EIR marks a vast change in fortunes for the embattled Travel & Tourism sector in the country, which was left reeling by the impact of the pandemic but is now firmly on the road to recovery.    

WTTC and JLL Release Latest ‘Destination 2030: Global Cities’ Readiness for Sustainable Tourism Growth’

Manila, Philippines: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and JLL released today a new major report which addresses what makes a city better prepared for Travel & Tourism growth.

The report, ‘Destination 2030: Global cities’ readiness for sustainable tourism growth’, has been released during WTTC’s 21st Global Summit in Manila, Philippines.

Prior to the pandemic, the Travel & Tourism sector had been outpacing the global economy for almost a decade, with an annual average growth of 4.3% compared to 2.9% through 2019, and a contribution of nearly USD 9.2 trillion to the global economy in the same year.

After the damaging disruption caused by the pandemic, the global Travel & Tourism sector is finally seeing signs of recovery. As the sector continues to evolve, the halt to international travel not only provided new challenges, but also the opportunity for policy makers, destination leaders and stakeholders to enhance the sector’s readiness.

The report, also known as ‘Destination 2030’, addresses what makes a city ready for sustainable Travel & Tourism. 63 global cities were measured and categorised into one of five levels of “readiness” while providing attainable solutions to promote sustainable growth in tourism activity in each destination.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Travel & Tourism plays an incredibly important role in a city’s economy, not only boosting GDP, but also creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of those who rely on our sector.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with JLL building on our initial report launched in 2019 with a special focus on sustainability.

“For a city to truly thrive and for Travel & Tourism to develop in a sustainable manner, stakeholders need to understand how prepared the city is for the expected growth in tourism and the resulting challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.”

“The notion of ‘readiness’ has a ripple effect throughout the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO, JLL Hotels & Hospitality. “The progression and planning that a country, region or destination achieves will impact the financial health of the industries that make up the tourism industry. This includes property values, tax generation and workforce development.”

“The collective research that has produced the readiness index underscores the importance and breadth of engagement that is needed from the tourism industry,” added Dan Fenton, Director of Global Tourism and Destination Development Services, JLL Hotels & Hospitality. “Our industry must take a leadership role in virtually all indicators that make up the index.”

According to the innovative report, the “readiness” levels range on a scale from emerging to established-market tourism hubs with varying levels of infrastructure. It goes on explain the current opportunities and challenges faced by cities and offers recommendations for building and maintaining tourism activity.

Although the five typologies will require different approaches to development, no one typology is better than another, and all will demand proactiveness in strategic planning and implementation at the destination level:

Dawning Developers, such as New Delhi and Riyadh, are cities with emerging tourism infrastructure, slower tourism growth, and lower visitor concentration. Such destinations often have a clean slate in planning long term tourism development with many opportunities ahead.

Emerging Performers, such as Dubrovnik and Buenos Aires, are cities that are experiencing growing tourism momentum, enabled by emerging tourism infrastructure, and providing tremendous opportunities for strategic development. However, destinations in this category may experience pressures and challenges such as overcrowding.

Balanced Dynamics, such as Auckland and Vancouver, are cities that have established tourism infrastructure and potential for further Travel & Tourism growth, across both leisure and business segments, whilst balancing scale and concentration.

Mature Performers, such as Miami, Berlin, and Hong Kong, are cities with a strong leisure and/or business travel dynamics and an established tourism infrastructure. As these destinations look to further drive Travel & Tourism growth, they will need to proactively consider potential pressures as well as opportunities for diversification to avoid strains linked to visitor volumes.

Managing Momentum, such as Amsterdam, London, and Las Vegas, are cities with a historical high growth momentum, supported by an established tourism infrastructure. Destinations within this typology are more likely than ‘Mature Performers’ to have already reached the stage of feeling the pressures of balancing scale and concentration as they continue to benefit from Travel & Tourism.

The readiness categories were determined by analysing data on 79 indicators within eight pillars. In addition to the six pillars included in the previous report, ­– scale, concentration, leisure, business, urban readiness, and policy prioritisation –, two new pillars were added: environmental readiness, and safety and security.

These additions allowed for an improved focus on sustainability, social impact, and safety and security in conjunction with the more conventional indicators that continue to drive the sector.

The pandemic has shown the pressing need for a holistic view when addressing destination planning and management. The importance of cities as drivers of success cannot be undervalued, making it a priority to recommit to the future of destinations

About JLL: JLL is a leading professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. For further information, visit jll.com.

Climate Crisis and Localization of Response to Disasters Highlighted as Key Issues

May 19, 2022, MANILA — The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and private sector representatives from fourteen countries from the UN’s Connecting Business Initiative met recently in Geneva in person for the first time in two years at the eighth Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) hosted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Participants shared experiences and best practices about the role of local businesses in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.  The group identified the fight against the climate crisis and localization of humanitarian response as the key issues where local businesses can help make a difference in people’s lives. 

“Humanitarian action is all about bringing people together. When a disaster strikes, first responders are the local communities, the local businesses. For OCHA, the private sector is one of our most important partners to collectively respond better and quicker,” said Edem Wosornu, Chief of OCHA’s Response Support Branch.

PDRF President Butch Meily was a resource speaker during the session entitled, “Act local, think global: humanitarian action and the private sector” along with representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Alliance for Risk Management and Business Continuity (AGERCA, Haiti), and the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka (A-PAD SL).

“Love is stronger than hatred. Light is stronger than darkness. Looking out at all of you coming from all over the world and gathered here to do good, I am reminded of how each of us in our own way is a lamp that glows in the night giving light and hope to everyone,” said Meily. 

“COVID-19 has brought a renewed sense of urgency in the need to support local and national actors. When countries went into lockdown, in many cases there were only local actors to deliver assistance,” explained Marcos Neto, the Director of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub. “But local businesses need support, they need to be involved in decision-making processes of humanitarian response, and they have the means to deliver assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles.”

PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon spoke at the session  “Feeling the Heat, how local businesses respond to the climate emergency”, which highlighted examples of climate action from the Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council (FBDRC) the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), The Madagascar Private Sector Humanitarian Platform (PSHP), and UNICEF.

“Businesses, specifically MSMEs [micro, small, and medium enterprises], are among the hardest hit by climate change and so innovative and sustainable solutions need to be created and implemented to help them adapt better,” said Gabaldon.

More than 6,000 participants from United Nations agencies to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and the private sector are still working on key topics in today’s humanitarian field and how better to partner to address them.  

PDRF also participated in the final public session, “Acting before crises hit: anticipatory action and the private sector”, in partnership with the International Federation for the Red Cross (IFRC) and the Anticipation Hub, focusing on how businesses can support the ongoing shift to more effective, efficient, and dignified humanitarian response through anticipatory action. 

PDRF’s Head of Development Programs and Innovation, Anna Katrina Aspuria, made the case for the importance of anticipating and preparing for a disaster before it happens. She cited the need to involve the private sector and non-traditional humanitarian actors in ensuring that resources are put in place to help communities protect themselves earlier.

Founded in 2016 in Istanbul at the World Humanitarian Summit, the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI) is a joint program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)to support private sector engagement before, during and after disasters. PDRF is a founding member of CBI and is seen as a role model for private sector networks. 

Aside from AGERCA, APAD SL, FBDRC, TÜRKONFED, and PSHP Madagascar, the other networks and business leaders represented at HNPW included: Plateforme Humanitaire du Secteur Privé de Côte d’Ivoire (PHSP Côte d’Ivoire), The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Centro Nacional de Apoyo para Contingencias Epidemiologicas y Desastres (CENACED, Mexico), The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Prospective networks were also represented, including Consejo Hondureño de la Empresa Privada (COHEP, Honduras), the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and Hombro a Hombro (Peru). 

PTAA's 29th Travel Tour Expo & the 7th International Travel Trade Expo 2022 at SMX

Bouncing back and reinvigorating the tourism industry, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) proudly presents the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo to be held on June 24-26, 2022 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

With the theme, “Braving and Shaping the Future of Travel”, the upcoming face-to-face travel tour expo will be offering great travel deals and awesome tour packages to both foreign and domestic travelers. Not only as a great business opportunity for both parties, it is also an encouragement for tourism and travel in general as PTAA president Michelle Taylan said, “The grand event signifies the recovery of travel and tourism this 2022, where the pandemic is nothing to be feared anymore. This is the year where travel businesses will flourish, and this is where we bring a new golden age for tourism.” Following the resounding success of the last year’s event which gathered key personalities from the government and different embassies, the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo promises a bigger expo, wider participation from stakeholders, and more exciting offers while observing and maintaining the minimum health standards set by the government. 

This year’s travel tour expo will occupy Function Rooms 1-5 on the 2nd floor of the SMX Convention Center Manila with more than 150 exhibitors and 35,000 to 45,000 visitors in expected attendance. The three-day event will be filled with raffle draws, corporate game shows, entertainment, and presentations from exhibitors and sponsors.

For PTAA, there’s no better time to host the biggest travel trade event after the government’s decision to ease the restrictions in Metro Manila. In response to this development, local government units in the provinces opted to relax their own protocols for visitors coming from the National Capital Region. With the easing of alert levels, the ‘No Vax, No Ride’ policy is now also lifted, further stimulating the mobility of travelers with caution and standard safety protocols still in place. 

After months of lockdown, domestic travelers who are looking forward to vacation trips welcome these developments with eager anticipation. However, health and safety during travel remain their No.1 concern amidst the COVID-19 situation. In response, no less than Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reassures travelers that safety measures are in place. “Travel in the Philippines is safe, and as we always promised, more fun. Thank you again for the continued support, and our best wishes for the success of the Travel and Tour Expo.”

DOST to Mobilize and Prioritize E-Mobility Innovations

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has declared that it is continuously prioritizing an ecosystem of e-mobility solutions for the country's transportation sector since fuel prices have reached new highs.

When the Department of Energy (DOE) is planning to procure the E-trike units, the DOST had anticipated the need for S&T interventions such as EV charging needs, low-cost battery storage system, battery management system, low-cost materials and production for e-trike, battery parts and components, mining technology to source out raw materials, etc.

Therefore, the agency has invested over PHP 321M on e-mobility related projects to modernize and uplift the transportation sector and reduce GHG emissions to save the environment.

Dr. Enrico Paringit, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) urged the public to support efforts to boost financing for e-mobility research and development and use and adoption of research-based technologies in the transportation industry and stressed the lower value of e-mobility, which costs 40% less than gasoline.

During a virtual press conference, DOST announced 16 e-mobility initiatives that target diverse areas of the transportation industry. The following are the projects:

E-Mobility R & D Center: This will be the country's first e-trike center which will be built in Cagayan. There are other projects under these, which are: Project 1: Design, Development, and Fabrication of the E-Trike's Different Parts and Assemblies; Project 2: Design, Fabrication, and Testing of a Locally Developed E-Trike's Electrical and Electronic Systems; and Project 3: Viability Study of Conversion of Conventional Tricycle To E-Trike

Intelligent Electric Transportation Systems: The DOST has helped to develop automobiles made from locally available materials and designed and manufactured by Filipino engineers. Two of them are the Hybrid Electric Train (HET) and the Hybrid Electric Road Train (HERT). Under this initiative, there are three more projects: Project 1: Ad-Hoc Vehicle Infrastructure Cooperative Environment; Project 2: Emocion: Electric Mobility and Charging Infrastructure Operating as a Network; Project 3: E-Trike Deployment and Utilization Investigation

Charging in Minutes (CharM): The Charging in Minutes project, commonly known as "CharM," attempts to reduce the time it takes to charge electric automobiles. In comparison to the traditional 4-6 hours of sluggish charging, this fast-charging system can fully charge electric automobiles in 30 minutes. The capabilities of the CharM are crucial in aiding the country's development of a more flexible and ecologically friendly mass transportation system.

23-seater Electric Jeepney (E-Jeepney): Design, Development, Demonstration and Business Planning of a Flexible Electric Van (Flev) for Logistics and Passenger Transport

Safe, Efficient, and Sustainable Solar-Assisted Plug-In Electric Boat (Sessy E-Boat)

Design of a Modular Stator, Segmented Rotor Switched Reluctance Motor

Fabrication of Aluminum-Air Reactor Battery

NICER R&D Center for Advanced Batteries: This is one of the most well-known new R&D centers, which will collaborate with host universities to develop strong R&D capabilities in the region. Three additional projects are listed under this:

o   NextGen: Advanced Cathode Materials for Next Generation Batteries

o   REBCell: NiFe High Energy Density Batteries

o   ALAB-EU: Advanced Lead-Acid Batteries

According to Paringit, e-mobility solutions are less expensive to maintain since the battery has fewer moving parts than a traditional automobile, making maintenance easier, less frequent, and more economical overall.

Paringit believes that electric vehicles will help minimize harmful air pollution by not generating any emissions. E-mobility solutions will help alleviate the Philippines' energy challenges as the country transitions to renewable energy sources.

“DOST-PCIEERD  welcomes the public to join us in speeding the country's transition to e-mobility as a pioneer and partner in facilitating innovations, " he added. 

Leading Industry Names Attended The 4th CEO Summit at the Summer Capital of the Philippines

Baguio City, April 6, 2022 – For the fourth year running, the CEO Summit convened over 100 business leaders, government agencies, and industry experts to discuss the latest trends and business strategies and their impact on our changing economy.   The conference was held at the Baguio Country Club and ran for four days from April 3 to 6.

 

This year’s theme was “4IR Ready:  The Era of Digital Transformation.”  The summit focused on four vital topics:  Opportunities for Growth, Transformative Leadership, Collaborative Governance, and the Future of Smart Cities.   

Baguio City Mayor, Hon. Benjamin Magalong, Hon. Blesila Lantayona, DTI Undersecretary, represented by Juliet Palpal Lucas, DTI-CAR Director, Dr. Cameron Odsey, Regional Executive Director, Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Violeta Salda, Former Chief Operating Officer of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center graced the event as guests of honor.  Sponsors for the conference include MyServicesShop/Servicoin as a Platinum sponsor; M360 as a Gold sponsor; AirAsia Super App, and Freshbuys as major sponsors. 

“I am extremely delighted that after what seems to be like ages, finally, we can once again convene face to face for another amazing and insightful conference! We have brought together notable speakers and brilliant leaders from various business sectors to share their experiences and insights on digital innovation that is creating an impact in our rapidly changing economy,” said Harper and Hill Managing Director, Angelo Cenon Valdez in his welcome address. 

The summit opened with Cordilleran dancers donned in colorful Igorot costumes who did an amazing performance of a traditional Kalinga dance. The highlights of the conference are the thought-provoking keynote addresses and engaging panel discussions. Over twenty keynote speakers shared and discussed innovation and digital transformation amid global disruption.

"A competitive environment fuels innovation and value creation. As COVID-19 has changed the business landscape, it has become imperative for businesses to adapt their strategies to the changing times. The pandemic has been a disruptive force that pushes businesses to embrace digital transformation. Developing digital talents, capabilities, and skills as well as putting in place effective policies and innovative digital infrastructures are therefore the key to seizing the new business opportunities and strategies that emerged during the pandemic," shared Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) represented by DTI-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Director Juliet Palpal Lucas in her opening keynote.

The honorable Mayor of Baguio City, Benjamin Magalong said, “The discourse on the use of technology as a tool ultimately boils down to the efficient delivery of government services to the people, especially for those who need it most. We have entered into the age of innovation as we need to adapt to the fast-paced world of digital transformation. We must always remain vigilant and proactive on how we can become a globally competitive City. As we engage in today’s activities, may we be inspired and reminded that we are not working for a small change, we are targeting for unprecedented change," when he shared about the Impact of Smart Cities in his keynote address.

 

"Today, we see leaders and companies facing opportunities and challenges as they optimize communications for the future. At M360, we help companies bring more engagement from different segments, delivering generation-less digital experiences, anywhere they are, in the channels they most prefer, that's why we are excited to share more of these with our fellow leaders in this year's CEO Summit,” said Ramon Hirang, Chief Operations Officer of M360 and CEO Summit’s Gold Sponsor, in his keynote address.

DTI-CAR, the CEO Summit's supporting organization, and PhilExport showcased about forty MicroSME local products through an exhibition.  

The CEO Summit is one of the key annual events organized by Harper and Hill Conference and Exhibition, Inc. which aims to gather world-class executives, successful entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders.   

Since 2018, HRTECH500 (formerly AseanHR.Org), Harper and Hill’s marketing arm, has produced top-notch conferences in the ASEAN region and collaborated with various corporate partners to create opportunities for business leaders that are shaping the future of our economy.  

DTI to Launch an Online Self-Assessment Toolkit to Guide MSMEs in Digital Transformation Journey

Are you a curious observer or a Progressive innovator?  

MANILA—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has initiated the development of a self-assessment toolkit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which will measure their level of digital maturity and readiness to embark in their journey towards digital transformation. 

During the 2nd Meeting of the E-commerce Promotion Council held on April 8, 2022, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez presented to the government and private sector representatives the MSME diagnostic toolkit developed by Thames International to be utilized by DTI.  The diagnostic toolkit is designed to help MSMEs assess their organization’s technological knowledge and their mindset on different digital transformation pillars: people, process, and product. The toolkit will then provide a personalized result that will guide them in initiating capacity building initiatives.   

“As we embrace the new normal, we must learn how to maximize the opportunities offered by the digital economy.  To improve your business, it is important to be equipped with the necessary knowhow, whether these are soft skills, digital skills or entrepreneurial skills,” said Secretary Lopez. 

According to the trade chief, more than two million businesses were issued Mayor’s Permit and there is an estimated six million social/casual sellers in e-commerce.  He further emphasized that the self-assessment toolkit, which will be made available online, will allow as many entrepreneurs as possible to utilize it.  This toolkit is a quick, free, and easy-to-use test where a respondent-specific scorecard will be generated after completion. The scorecard will recommend specific training topics so MSMEs can advance in their digital transformation journey. Furthermore, the toolkit will provide a link to the existing and available training programs related to e-commerce and digitalization that MSMEs can avail.  

Mr. Joel Santos, President of Thames International which developed the toolkit for DTI described the four sections available: 1) An information section that gathers basic information such as email address, location, type of business, and classification; 2) The technology section that asks about the current and available tools used by the entrepreneur; 3) The 3Ps section, which defines the entrepreneur’s perception towards digital transformation on people, product and process; and 4) The final section or the scorecard, which will show the digital transformation type such as Conventional/Curious, Open, Driven, or Progressive vis-a-vis Technology Persona (Observer, Experimenter, Collaborator, Innovator). 

In 2020, the DTI E-Commerce Division conducted a Baseline Survey on Digitalization of MSMEs. The survey identified the level of digitalization of Philippine MSMEs aligned with the categories defined under the ASEAN SME Digitalization study (ie. Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced). 

The Philippine baseline study revealed that 23% of SMEs do not use digital tools (Level 0); while 51% utilize business email (Level 1); 21% make use of business email and website (Level 2); and 6% employ business email, website, and advanced tools in their business (Level 3). The  Digital Transformation Toolkit also mirrors a similar 4-stage maturity approach, this allows previous and future MSME data sets to acquire a degree of relevance and consistency. 

In his presentation, Thames International Managing Director TJ Parpan shared that this project initiated by DTI E-Commerce Division will serve as a guide for MSMEs and is not intended to be prescriptive.  A training framework has been developed and a list of recommended capacity building topics and programs will be presented but MSMEs must use this as a starting point to develop their own strategies on how to move forward in their digital transformation journey.  

“After taking the self-assessment toolkit, MSMEs may opt to visit the website of DTI or the NegosyoCenter.online website and its learning resources.  They can also visit their nearest Negosyo Center to inquire about the next steps--from how to create an email account (level 0) to data analytics (Level 3). There are several information available for our micro, small, medium enterprises and DTI is here to help,” added Secretary Lopez. 

Job outlook in e-commerce positive according to HR practitioners, 86.7% E-commerce Job Outlook Index reported 

Good news for job hunters. According to a study conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 75% of HR practitioners interviewed say that the e-commerce sector is thriving and there is a need to hire additional talents. An 86.7% E-commerce Job Outlook Index (EJI) was also recorded for the first time in this baseline study which reflects positive business outlook. E-Commerce Job Outlook is defined as the forecast of the rate of employment growth or decline in occupation. DTI commissioned Acquisition Apps, Inc. (AAI)/Tangere, a market research start-up that created a diffusion index similar to the Purchasing Manager’s Index.  

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez explained during the 2nd meeting of the E-Commerce Promotion Council the rationale for the study, citing a study conducted by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company in 2021 which named the Philippines as the fastest growing internet economy in Southeast Asia. He also acknowledged the need for upskilling and reskilling citing the report that “talent remains a key factor that all parties will need to keep working toward ensuring that the momentum gained this year is sustained.” 

“One of the key strategies of the e-Commerce Philippines 2022 Roadmap is to make available a talent pool of digitally skilled workers. Skills mismatch has often been cited as a perennial problem in various industries and if we are to achieve maximum growth for the e-commerce sector, we must understand the e-commerce workforce ecosystem and identify the demand requirement so we can supply relevant skills,” the trade chief said.  

Furthermore, he mentioned that one of the key findings of the Job Outlook study identified the differing needs of e-commerce enterprises, with MSMEs requiring more digital talent in the areas of content creation and technical skills (website development, software developers), while large companies require digital talents on business intelligence and strategy. 

Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco, DTI E-Commerce Lead, also highlighted some of the key findings based on the Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): 

  1)  The requirement for digital talents will steadily increase in the next five years due to adaptive consumer behavior and the need for businesses to keep up with current trends or be left out. 

2) Smaller companies venturing into e-commerce are doing it in order to survive while bigger companies are utilizing e-commerce for omnichannel coverage. Talent needs are different to a certain extent.   

 3) Philippine companies are competing for talent amongst themselves and at the same time with foreign companies. There is enough supply of digital talent for those who are willing to pay higher but there is an issue with talent quality.  

 4) Because of their agile nature, digital platforms add new features and discard old ones quickly in almost six months. Knowledge of digital programs and tools also needs updating. 

 5 Even if companies have only experienced minor problems in sourcing digital talent, bigger problems seem to occur after candidates were hired. 

The Job Outlook Survey revealed that most companies require Digital Marketing Specialist (52%), followed by a Social Media Specialist (38%), Account Manager (26%), Content Strategist/Writer (20%), Data Analyst/Business Intelligence (20%), and Quality Assurance Specialist (20%).  But Soft skills are also critical such as communication, persuasion, critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability as these are what HR recruiters and HR heads claim they look for primarily among applicants. Digital talents in the Philippines can either have formal or informal education or training.  While recruiters are open to non-degree holders, college graduates are still preferred for entry-level jobs. The Job Outlook Survey also revealed that Facebook and job websites such as LinkedIn, are major talent sourcing channels by the respondents.   

Furthermore, Secretary Lopez said that the Job Outlook Survey provided relevant information such as the tasks, skills, foundational courses, and pay scale of various jobs in e-commerce. 

“Trust that we shall keep our eyes on the ball. DTI will collaborate with DOLE and TESDA to prepare our workforce and improve hiring success by providing employers with productive and engaged digitally skilled talents to improve their businesses and ultimately contribute to e-commerce growth,” added the Trade Secretary.   

The E-Commerce Job Outlook Survey was developed by AAI/Tangere, one of the top 100 Startups in the world based on the Microsoft Emerge X Program. It was conducted from January 10 to February 10 and employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches, utilizing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) among e-commerce merchants, intermediaries, training institutions, and professional organizations. Meanwhile, an online survey among HR heads or managers of companies engaged in e-commerce was done from March 1 to 11, 2022.