ESCA Knowledge Academy digitizes the construction industry

The Construction Manpower Development Foundation recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 7 February 2018 with ESCA Knowledge Academy (Multi-disciplinary Institute of Technology Inc.), a recognized training provider of CMDF. The MOA aims to accelerate and expand training delivery of the Enhanced Construction Managers Training and Certification Program (ECOMTCP) by recognizing certificates issued by ESCA Knowledge Academy as completion of an elective module for ECOMTCP.

As a part of this MOA, CMDF recognized its first ECOMTCP elective through ESCA Knowledge Academy’s BIM 100: Digitizing the Built Environment which was conducted in partnership with the PCA Technical and Education Foundation on 23-24 February 2018 in the PCA Training room.

ESCA Knowledge Academy, a recognized training provider of CMDF, conducts trainings on Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is one of the elective modules under ECOMTCP, it is a digital process encompassing geometrical dimensions, time management and scheduling, cost management and estimates, sustainability, and facility management. As the Philippines enters a new era of infrastructure boom, this technological advancement in the construction industry digitizes the process from pre-construction to maintenance which can improve productivity and efficiency, help contractors meet timelines and assist government in ensuring quality and transparency in projects.

Since BIM builds a structure virtually before physical construction, this allows stakeholders to work in a collaborative digital environment where changes will be less costly and less time consuming. The partnership demonstrates the government’s drive for technological advancement in the field of construction for a globally competitive Philippines.

*This is Press Release

‘Now, a perfect time to expand’— Lopez to IT-BMP players

The government intensifies its support for the continuous development of the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry, following the industry’s generated revenue of around US$23 billion and direct employment of 1.3 million last year.

Speaking at the office opening of financial institution ING Business Shared Services BV on 20 June, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said that ING’s expansion comes at a perfect time when the Philippines is considered the global leader in IT-BPM, having an annual growth rate of 30% over a decade.

Sec. Lopez also mentioned that IT-BMP’s economic contributions surpass remittances of overseas Filipino workers, making the industry more competitive and growth-driven.

“The industry benefits from an enabling policy environment under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. I encourage the IT-BMP industry players to continue expanding and specifically take advantage of this moment, when the Philippines is experiencing an economic breakout, as further intensified by efforts to improve ease of doing business,” he said. 

The trade chief also highlighted that the country has a qualified, highly-trainable, hardworking work force, with notable English proficiency and fast learning curve.

“Filipinos’ adaptability to universal cultures and their high level of commitment and loyalty prove that the country’s greatest asset has always been its people, who will bring inclusive growth to the rest of the country,” he said.

Globally, the Philippines is competitively positioned in terms of talent, costs, and risks relative to established and emerging offshore destinations. Cities from Metro Manila to Clark, to the cities of Cebu, Davao, Santa Rosa, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, and Baguio are listed in the 2016 Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations as reported by Tholons.

While the Philippines is the number one global provider of voice BPM services, it is also rapidly expanding in the value-driven non-voice, complex services segments of the industry.

Non-voice services included range from engineering, health care, legal, financial, creative, and software services for the energy, banking, investment, insurance, shipping, media, and other industries.

DTI has set up Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) for IT-BPM, wherein the government invests on training for students to work in the industry.

DTI also has a partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) to run the Service Management Program (SMP), a specialized track for business and IT schools to develop skills in students needed to work in the IT-BPM industry.

The first foreign bank that transitioned into a universal bank in the country, ING offers banking insurance, retirement and investments services with global presence in 40 countries. 

*This is Press Release

DTI-CIAP gears towards a more competent construction industry workforce with stronger and more holistic HRD programs

The Department of Trade and Industry-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP) thru its human resource development arm; the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF) will be launching the Enhanced Construction Managers’ Training and Certification Program (ECOMTCP) within 2017 to lead infrastructure developments in the Philippines with capable project managers.

ECOMTCP is the enriched product of industry-led application of lessons from the former COMPTCP, which is CMDF’s pilot program to assure that competent project managers will handle huge and complex projects in construction. ECOMTCP, which is projected to begin pilot run on the 3^rd quarter of 2017 will be more acceptable and align itself with Philippine education standards. The goal of the program is to guarantee the competency of project managers by introducing rigorous assessment mechanism and added incentives like earning CPD units, additional credit points for PCAB Contractor’s License, and harmonized requirements to ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer.

CMDF is working with DPWH to endorse 43 graduates of DPWH’S Project Managers Course for certification to ECOMTCP. The program is the practical answer to the growing demand for competent and certified construction project managers.

ECOMTCP shows the government’s drive to fully support the projected growth of the construction industry by advocating for competent and globally competitive Filipino workforce. DTI-CIAP thru CMDF as mandated by PD No. 1746 continues to run and develop various programs to support construction industry professionals and workers in improving their knowledge and skills and work their way to nation building.