The Philippines’ digital interactive goods and service activities, which include game development and animation, contributed a massive P325 billion or over 20 percent of the country’s creative economy in 2022 with strong potential for growth, amid the need to continue upskilling local industry talents, according to a report.
Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, in a speech during the first Philippine Game Development Expo (PGDX) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Aug. 18, cited the results of the National Skills Mapping and Survey on Human Resource Development Needs of the IT-BPM Sector, which highlighted the 4.5 percent growth in digital interactive goods and services in 2022 and employment of 388,838 workers.
“As one of the higher-value segments of the IT-BPM industry, we recognize the notable contribution of the game development industry to the Philippine economy and quality employment of Filipinos,” she told the PGDX organized by the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP).
But Halili-Dichosa noted that the report also highlighted the concern about the readiness of talent entering the workforce in the game development industry amid the industry’s great potential.
Further, the report also confirmed the need for proactive government interventions to equip students with the necessary skills for the future. It emphasized the reskilling and upskilling of the industry workforce to remain competitive globally.
Thus, she said, the BOI would like to move the industry to higher levels of growth and achieve its roadmap targets.
To do this, Halili-Dichosa said the need to work on continuously replenishing the pool of qualified labor and consequently reduce the training costs of local companies.
As such, the BOI has also been coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement relevant initiatives through upcoming collaboration program on "Kids for the Future of Philippine Industrialization" to support learners and educators in enhancing their knowledge on industry trends, technologies, industry skills and competency requirements and challenges, among others.
The BOI has partnered with education agencies to implement projects and programs that will prepare graduates and fulfill the needs of industries.
Aligned with the "Make It Happen in the Philippines", Halili-Dichosa said the BOI also launched "Youth Can Make It Happen" in partnership with DepEd, believing that by influencing the younger generation, the better it will be for the future of the domestic economy.