Trade Chief Backs New Pact to Boost IT-BPM Quality

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque on April 28 backed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Competitive Development and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive under the Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda, the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, institutional synergy and inclusive growth.

Through the DTI’s Bureau of Competitive Development, this formalized partnership aims to promote excellence and global competitiveness in the country’s thriving information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector.

The official signing ceremony took place at the Office of the Secretary at the DTI headquarters in Makati City.

Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, supervising head of the Competitiveness and Innovation Group, served as the principal signatory for the DTI.

Jonathan Jack R. Madrid, president and CEO of IBPAP, signed on behalf of the association.

The event was witnessed by key officials from the DTI and leaders from the IT-BPM sector.

Under the MOU, the DTI and IBPAP will collaborate to encourage IT-BPM organizations to adopt the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) framework, the highest national recognition for organizational excellence.

The agreement also formalizes the creation of the IBPAP Quality Council, which will support the sector in implementing quality standards and continuous improvement initiatives.

“This partnership marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to elevate the quality and competitiveness of the Philippine IT-BPM sector,” said Assistant Secretary Bautista.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to make the PQA framework more accessible and relevant to IT-BPM organizations, enabling them to pursue continuous improvement, achieve world-class standards and create more sustainable employment opportunities for Filipinos,” she added.

“This partnership is a clear reflection of our whole-of-nation approach under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda,” said Secretary Roque.

“By prioritizing quality and global competitiveness in the IT-BPM sector, we are advancing a transformative vision of government that is dynamic, future-ready and centered on inclusive economic growth,” she said.

“This collaboration with IBPAP is not just about raising standards—it is about building a resilient, innovation-driven Philippines,” Roque added.

The IT-BPM sector continues to be a major economic driver, employing more than 1.5 million Filipinos and contributing significantly to the national gross domestic product.

Through this initiative, DTI and IBPAP aim to equip industry players with the tools and support needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

IBPAP President Madrid affirmed the association’s commitment to quality and growth.

“Our collaboration with DTI through the PQA program is a strategic move to build stronger foundations for operational excellence across the industry,” Madrid said.

“It strengthens our capacity to remain globally competitive and future-ready,” he added.

“This is more than a document; this is a call to action,” Madrid said.

The MOU will serve as a nonbinding but strategically important framework for collaboration between DTI and IBPAP.

It will remain in effect until formally concluded by either party.