The Philippines moved one rank higher in a study on
IT competitiveness conducted by the Economic
Intelligence Unit, placing itself at 10th among 17 countries
in the Asia Pacific.
However, the country remained 47th among 66 countries worldwide
with a score of 28.7%.
The study was commissioned by Business
Software Alliance (BSA) in order to measure the competitiveness
of a country in terms of business environment, human capital, IT
infrastructure, legal environment, research and development (R&D)
environment, and support for the IT industry.
Results show that the Philippines have an encouraging business
environment, having set government policies on foreign capital,
investment protection, government regulations, and fair competition,
to name a few.
Also, the country has a strong human capital, or workforce equipped
with up-to-date knowledge and skills related to IT, who can cope
up with the needs of the industry. Aside from technical skills,
college graduates here in the Philippines have good ‘soft’
skills or communication skills in English, in particular. They are
able to express themselves and present ideas in a clear, concise
manner.
Meanwhile, government should increase focus on R&D, particularly
in harnessing new technology, stronger legal environment, building
IT infrastructures and should support and pursue patent of locally
made IT products.
IT infrastructure is measured by the percentage of personal computer
(PC) ownership, high broadband penetration, good internet security,
and level of spending in IT.
Patent is the exclusive right granted to an individual who has
produced or created an invention or product which is intended for
distribution or production. It protects the invention from being
copied, reproduced, sold or promoted without consent of the patentee.
By pursuing patents, companies who are into IT development, whether
in the form or software or hardware will be protected. BSA Vice-President
and Regional Director for Asia Pacific Jeffrey J. Hardee told the
press that companies and the government must focus and allocate
funds dedicated to R&D, else, no patents will be made and the
country will continue to lag in this field.
Furthermore, Hardee adds that strengthening the Intellectual property
(IP) laws of the land should also be a priority to ensure maximum
protection of IT-based patents.
As a form of assistance, BSA has appointed Atty. Bienvenido Marquez
III as Consultant to the BSA Philippines Committee. Atty. Marquez
has been working as an associate lawyer specializing in IP Laws.
Marquez shall be working close at hand with BSA and the government
to facilitate and promote better ways to protect and promote IP
in the country.
Web Philippines, Inc. thanks the
following sources:
Business Software Alliance. The means to compete -
Benchmarking IT industry competitiveness (in .PDF format entitled
EIU IT Competitiveness Index Whitepaper) Retrieved October 17, 2008 http://w3.bsa.org/philippines/policy/
