The Government Academe Industry Network (GAIN) underscored the need to elevate Filipino talent and ensure that they maintain their competitive advantage on the global stage.
Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, president of GAIN, called for meaningful collaboration among the key players and stakeholders to empower the mobilization of Filipino talent during the recent 6th GAIN National Convention at the AIM Conference Center, which focused on the theme “Internalization of Workforce: Global Talent Mobility through International Standards.”
“Things are changing so fast. We are making space for a more interconnected and interdependent world, and we need to make sure that Filipinos are prepared to get those jobs that they need to take care of their families and thrive,” she said.
Dr. Jose Cueto Jr., commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission, explained how the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) is used to measure skills of Filipino professionals to determine their level of knowledge and skills as well as their ability to apply these in the real world.
The PQF, according to Cueto, is designed to support academic and worker mobility and to address mismatches on job skills.
He also described how the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) can be used in comparison to the country’s own framework to determine how the skills of a Filipino professional measure up to professionals of other countries.
However, Cueto admitted that “not many organizations in the government, academe, and industry have the mastery of the PQF/AQRF qualifications.”
Compliance with international standards is non-negotiable in industries such as banking and healthcare, said Roderick Danao, chairman of PwC Philippines.
The healthcare sector is a “complex, dynamic sector driven by demographic changes, technological disruptions, and evolving healthcare needs,” added Nora Terrado, CEO of Carelon Global Solutions.
She noted that Filipinos have already set the standard for healthcare professionals abroad, citing the top performance of Filipino nurses in the U.S. National Council Licensure Examination from 2022 to 2023.
Bureau of Investment governor Marjorie Ramos-Samaniego, for her part, said one challenge is to maintain the Filipino workers’ competitive advantage, especially in the midst of digital transformation and the rise of AI adoption.
For Gerardo Borromeo, CEO of Philippine Transmarine Carriers, this can be achieved by encouraging the Filipino youth to pursue the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM strand in senior high school.
Skills development will also be key to succeeding in an automated workforce, according to Clarissa Segismundo, Microsoft’s Head of Education and Skilling Program.
Citing the 2023 Work Trend Index Report, Segismundo explained that business leaders will need to equip their employees with the right AI skills such as analytical judgment, flexibility, and emotional intelligence, among others.
Collaborative efforts among government agencies, the academe, and industry stakeholders are already underway, said Frankie Antolin, Executive Director for Talent Attraction and Development at the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).