Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Keep Call Centers In America Act Of 2025 Sparks Resolution Proposal In Philippine Congress

October 24, 2025October 23, 2025carlocarrasco

A few months ago in the United States, the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 was filed and it really caused a disturbance on the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in the Philippines. Recently a member of Congress here in the Philippines filed a resolution to initiate talks with the US to discuss call center reshoring and seek exemptions, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

Coincidentally, the proposed resolution was filed by a Congressman from the province of Cebu where I once worked as a call center agent a very long time ago. I never returned to the call center industry.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

A CEBU legislator filed a resolution on Monday urging the government to initiate talks with the US over plans to bring the call-center industry back from overseas.

The Trade and Foreign Affairs departments should “immediately initiate dialogue” with their US counterparts to seek exemptions for US business process outsourcing (BPO) firms operating in the Philippines, according to Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco D. Frasco, who filed House Resolution No. 386.

“The urgency of the situation demands proactive and high-level diplomatic action and trade engagement to ensure that the interests of Filipino workers and US-affiliated firms operating in the Philippines are protected from the US bill’s unintended economic consequences,” he said, referring to US legislation known as the proposed Keep Call Centers in America Act

The US bill could penalize US companies for outsourcing call center operations by ruling them out for federal grants and loan guarantees. The Philippines call center industry employs about 1.7 million, according to the House resolution.

Mr. Frasco described the US measure as posing a “direct threat” to the stability of the BPO industry and may discourage American firms from setting up shop in the country, leading to job losses and loss of investor confidence.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Congressman Frasco’s proposed resolution will be approved soon? Do you think the DTI will be able to meet with their American counterparts and be able to secure exemptions? Do you think the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 is very dangerous to the BPO industry of the Philippines? How many people in your local community are working in call centers right now? When do you think the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 will be passed by US Congress and be sent to President Donald Trump for final approval?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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DTI Defers Mandatory Trustmark Due To Backlash From Online Merchants

October 18, 2025October 17, 2025carlocarrasco

In response to backlash from online merchants, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially deferred the mandatory Trademark, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Trustmark will be voluntary until December 31, 2025.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

After facing backlash from online merchants, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will no longer mandate the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark, instead making the requirement voluntary until the end of the year.

In a statement, the DTI said the move was announced by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque during a town hall meeting about the trustmark’s implementation on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Roque said that hearing directly from stakeholders made the agency want to improve the trustmark to make it more “useful, fair, and helpful for both businesses and consumers.”

“After all, our shared goal is to make e-commerce in the Philippines safer and more trustworthy for everyone,” she said.

The secretary—and the DTI as a whole—has been on the receiving end of outrage among online merchants, who have been labeling the trustmark as an additional burden.

The DTI even disabled the comment feature on its Facebook page after being bombarded with criticism on every post, even those unrelated to the trustmark.

The trustmark, aligned with the Internet Transactions Act, serves as a digital badge to ensure that online platforms and merchants are compliant with fair e-commerce practices. It is designed to help consumers identify legitimate businesses, protecting them against unfair trade practices, scams, and other fraudulent activities.

Under the new policy, the DTI said that the trustmark will be voluntary until Dec. 31. So far, the DTI is still finalizing supplemental guidelines for this policy, including fees that depend on the size or type of business, among other details.

By early 2026, the department is expected to evaluate whether the trustmark registration will remain voluntary.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What do you think the Trustmark of DTI is more of a hassle than a benefit for online sellers? Do you think the Trustmark should be scrapped entirely? What do you think should be done to help consumers find legitimate online merchants?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Trade Chief Points To Trump Tariffs As Country Braces For Dumping Of Products From Asian Neighbors

October 13, 2025October 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Here we go again with the perceived challenges related to the tariffs of Trump-led America. This time around the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) pointed to the Trump tariffs which she said raised the risk of products from Asian neighbors getting dumped into the Philippines and potentially harm local industries, according to news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Trump administration had set a series of tariff rates for different nations in Asia. American tariff on Philippines-made products was set at 19% after the big meeting between US President Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

It is a known fact that many nations in Asia export their products to the United States but with the new tariffs in effect and the fact that the Philippines has a population of more than one hundred million people, the latter is anticipated to become the dumping ground of Asian products. This development is happening just as the economy of the Philippines will grow by less than 6% this year (click here, here and here). Recently, the US State Department published a report about pervasive corruption being a barrier to investment in the Philippines.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The recent increase in the United States’ tariff rates heightened the risk of Asian goods being dumped into the Philippine market, raising the need for more stringent measures to protect local industries, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said Wednesday.

Roque, in an interview on the sidelines of the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. Business Summit in Makati City, said they expect increased entry of steel, cement, and garments, among others.

She traced this to the attractiveness of the Philippines as a market, given the country’s large population of over 100 million. She said DTI will work closely with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to ensure that only registered and properly taxed goods enter the country.

The DTI will also coordinate with local industries to prevent the continued spread of unregistered products in the market.

On Tuesday, personnel from DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau seized around PHP2 million worth of substandard construction materials from 24 retailers in Central Luzon as it strengthened its drive against uncertified and unsafe products in the market.

“We need to protect the manufacturing industry of the Philippines. So us, being in government, and us making sure we protect the jobs of the people,” she said.

Roque also noted that although investments continue to pour in, the volume is not what they had expected, thus, the need to boost local industries.

“So, we try to help them resolve whatever issues they have. And then we also at least help them strengthen or level up their businesses,” she explained.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think it is only a matter of time before a massive amount of Asian products (originally made for export to America) will arrive in the markets of the Philippines very soon? Did you notice any unregistered or sub-par quality products from overseas already being sold locally? What do you think can the DTI do to protect the local industries and livelihood of many Filipinos?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan’s Nambu Will Invest P4 Billion For Retirement Facilities In The Philippines

October 6, 2025September 29, 2025carlocarrasco

As different forms of economic uncertainty and controversies regarding flood control projects continue to dominate the news, the Philippines got a much-needed economic boost as Japanese firm Nambu Co. Ltd. confirmed it will be investing P4 billion to build several retirement facilities in different parts of the country, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

A Japanese wellness company will invest PHP4-billion to build 10 retirement facilities in various parts of the Philippines.

The initial facility to be established by Nambu Co. Ltd will be in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu province, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday.

The investment is supported by the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises – Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) Act and involves training Filipino caregivers to meet Japanese standards.

CREATE MORE broadens incentives to help boost economic recovery, support enterprises and attract foreign investment.

Details of the investment plan were discussed during a meeting between Philippine officials and members of the wellness company in Osaka, Japan on Thursday, the DTI said in a press release on Friday.

“This initiative aims to leverage the country’s skilled workforce to meet Japan’s labor needs while simultaneously boosting local employment,” it said.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the investment supports the government’s bid to increase high-value industries, drive job creation, and strengthen the country’s position as a premier retirement and wellness destination in the region.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think Nambu’s multi-billion Peso investment will make a long-lasting positive impact in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Deadline Of Registration For Trustmark Officially Moved To December 31, 2025

September 29, 2025September 20, 2025carlocarrasco

Small businesses all over the Philippines now have extra time to get themselves registered for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially extended the deadline all the way to December 31, 2025, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the Sept. 30 deadline for registration for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark to Dec. 31 to allow more small businesses to get the badge.

“The Trustmark is not a regulation to burden businesses but to serve as a tool that shields legitimate enterprises from scammers who undermine consumer confidence. Our aim is to make it simpler for consumers to identify and trust legitimate sellers, so entrepreneurs can focus on what truly matters — growing their business,” DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement Friday.

In a briefing earlier in the day, Roque said major players such as TikTok, Lazada and Shopee, already have their badges and more are expected to secure theirs as the deadline nears.

“Kasi alam mo naman sometimes sa ganito (Because you know sometimes, in things like this), they’re really waiting for the last minute or they’re still hoping that we can actually pull back on this Trustmark. Kasi ginagawa nila na issue (Because they’re making an issue of it) or whatnot. But we stand firm that we really need to have the Trustmark in the products that are being sold,” she said.

As of Sept. 19, a total of 10,057 business have submitted their applications to secure the Trustmark, DTI E-Commerce Bureau Officer-in-Charge Eryl Royce Nagtalon said during the briefing.

Nagtalon estimated registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country at 1.2 million to 1.3 million, but less than half have listings on various online platforms.

He explained that while there are about 500,000 MSMEs that have shifted to e-commerce, the number might balloon to about 900,000 as some businesses offer their products not just on a single platform but on several online shopping sites.

Asked if they expect all registered MSMEs to register for the Trustmark, Nagtalon answered yes, saying it is “very good for the e-commerce system.”

“It’s good because it means the competition is very healthy, the e-commerce is very healthy,” he said.

Registration for the Trustmark is mandated under Republic Act 11967, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, and the DTI’s Department Administrative Order 25-07. Applicants need to pay the PHP1,000 annual application fee, PHP100 web administration fee, and PHP30 documentary stamp tax.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Were you surprised to see the Philippines’ startups attracting much less equity funding from global investors? What do you think the government should do to convince global investors to invest more in startups here in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Secures Investments Worth Over P50 Billion From Japan

September 24, 2025September 15, 2025carlocarrasco

Japanese business entities confirmed they will be investing more than P50 billion in the Philippines following the recent meetings with and presentations by a Filipino delegation composed of government and economic officials, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine delegation secured around PHP51 billion worth of investments during its trip to Osaka, Japan, last week, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque.

The bulk of the investments, amounting to PHP34 billion, is from the operator of the world’s largest karaoke chain, Koshidaka Holdings Co., Ltd., which intends to open 300 outlets over the next 10 years.

In a press release Monday, Roque said this particular investment is projected to generate over 1,500 direct jobs and support thousands through construction and supply-chain activities.

Another conglomerate, Marubeni Corporation, committed PHP15-billion investments for real estate, financial technology, healthcare, and afforestation.

Sojitz Corporation, a general trading corporation, will also invest PHP2 billion to PHP3 billion in a property developer to attract firms that are into artificial intelligence, semiconductor design, software, and healthcare, and expressed interest in aviation-related projects.

Roque said Mitsui & Co., a major Japanese trading company, will expand its existing investment in the Philippines after it reaffirmed its partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Steel Asia for a steel recycling entity targeted to support decarbonization bid.

“These commitments in green energy, smart housing, healthcare, and creative services highlight the strength of our partnership with Japan. DTI and the Economic Team will work together to ensure these projects generate quality jobs, strengthen supply chains, and advance the country’s shift to a green, digital, and broad-based economy,” she said.

“These investments are a testament to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for an agile, innovation-driven economy that welcomes partnerships and delivers inclusive growth.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Are you delighted that the Philippines secured P51 billion worth of investments from Japanese business entities? Do you think this will help the Philippines attract more foreign investments over the next six months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Mandatory Trustmark for E-Commerce in the Philippines

September 21, 2025September 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Business in the Philippines with established presence online will be required to get registered for E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark) as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that digital verification system for e-commerce will be mandatory, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The digital verification system in e-commerce to ensure reliability of online transactions will no longer be voluntary and instead now mandated for every merchant and platform, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The DTI launched the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark to serve as a digital badge issued to online businesses that comply with fair e-commerce practices.

In July, the department said the trustmark was only “voluntary,” with merchants only “encouraged to apply to build consumer trust.”

The trustmark is designed to help consumers identify legitimate online merchants, thereby safeguarding them from unfair trade practices and threats of scams and other fraudulent activities.

Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25-12, the DTI said the trustmark will now be mandatory and also serve as the permit for e-commerce merchants and online platforms to use the internet for conducting their business.

“Issuance of the trustmark shall signify that the products, goods, or services sold online by the holder comply with applicable standards and good e-commerce practices,” the DTI said in the order.

The DTI, headed by Secretary Cristina Roque, said the mandatory registration is a direct response to the recent surge in consumer concerns. Between January and August, the agency reported over 13,000 complaints related to online transactions.

As indicated under DAO No. 25-12, all online merchants, e-retailers, e-marketplaces, or digital platforms availing of the Philippine market over the internet shall apply for and obtain the (Trustmark) by Sept. 30

The DTI said this is to ensure that the merchant or platform is permitted to “use the internet for conducting e-commerce.”

While the order did not explicitly detail potential violations for not having a trustmark, it noted that those who have submitted an application on or before Sept. 30 must clearly state on their page that their trustmark is still pending evaluation and approval.

To apply for the trustmark, interested applicants must submit an application form accompanied by a sworn undertaking to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

E-commerce merchants must meet key regulatory standards, including full business disclosure, protection of consumer data, and an internal redress mechanism to address consumer complaints.

As embodied under the order, the DTI emphasized that Trustmark does not exempt the holder from compliance with other applicable laws or regulations.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? If you are operating a local business with presence online, do you think the mandatory registration for the Trustmark is hassle?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Deadline For E-Commerce Trustmark Registration In The Philippines Set On September 30, 2025

September 20, 2025September 11, 2025carlocarrasco

Here in the Philippines, businesses that have established their presence online are supposed to get themselves registered for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark) and they have until September 30, 2025, to do it, according to a news article by Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Businesses with online presence are given until Sept. 30, 2025 to register for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark), a move aimed to address consumer concerns, the Department of Trade and Industry said Thursday.

Online merchants are mandated by the DTI, in a Department Administrative Order, to register for the Trustmark to increase consumers’ confidence on the electric commerce (e-commerce) space and in compliance to Republic Act 11967, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act of 2023.

“The mandatory registration is also a direct response to the surge in consumer concerns, with DTI recording over 13,000 complaints related to online transactions from January to August 2025,” DTI said in a press release Thursday.

Under the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, consumers may file damage claims against the erring online businesses before the court or the DTI. Penalties have been set, with the third and subsequent violations penalized PHP1 million.

DTI said it has already issued digital badges to several major entities that include Shopee Philippines, Inc. (Shopee), Bytedance Philippines Inc. (TikTok Shop), Lalamove Philippines, Inc. (Lalamove), and LG Electronics Philippines, Inc. (LG).

The others are Asahi Electrical Manufacturing Corporation (Asahi), Cherenz Global Mfg., Inc. (TOUGHMAMA), Concepcion Midea, Inc. (Midea), Concepcion Carrier Air Conditioning Company (Carrier), First Digital Finance Corporation (Billease), Mailtag Ortigas Corporation (DHL Express), Pan-Eurasia Sales Marketing Corporation (Dowell, Edamama and Tefal), QuadX Inc. (Gogo Xpress and ShippingCart), and Tosot Philippines Corporation (Tosot).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think Trustmark will is good for both the legitimacy of businesses as well as the safety of consumers? Do you own a business with online presence?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Seeking US Tariff Exemptions For Agricultural Commodities, Electronics and More

August 31, 2025August 30, 2025carlocarrasco

Remember the big meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., over a month ago? A 19% tariff by America on Philippine goods was set and now the government of the Philippines is seeking exemptions specifically for exports of agricultural commodities, electronics, vehicle tires, bags and aircraft parts, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE PHILIPPINES is asking the US to exempt exports of agricultural products and other goods from the 19% tariff imposed by US President Donald J. Trump, a Trade official said on Thursday.

Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said the government is seeking US tariff exemptions for exports of agricultural commodities, electronics, vehicle tires, bags and aircraft parts.

“We submitted a list of products we asked the US to exempt from the imposed tariff rates, because these are key and complementary items. And some of them, in fact, are not even produced or manufactured there (in the US),” he told senators at a Senate briefing on the tariff set by Washington on Philippine exports.

“The immediate need right now is we want to negotiate for an exemption, because we want to protect our industries whose main export market is the US,” he added.

The US began imposing a 19% tariff on Philippine goods starting Aug. 7.

“We already submitted to the US the products that should be exempted from the reciprocal tariffs,” he said.

Mr. Gepty said about 23% of the country’s total exports to the US are exempted from the 19% tariff.

In June, the United States was the top destination for Philippine-made goods amounting to $1.22 billion, 35.2% higher from the same month a year ago. Around 53% of the Philippines’ total exports to the US were semiconductors and electronics, Mr. Gepty said.

The US has yet to set new global tariffs for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Mr. Trump had earlier said he plans to announce higher tariffs on imports of semiconductors, but companies that plan to build manufacturing facilities in the US would be exempted.

“Ninety-nine percent of our semiconductors as of now are still exempted, there’s still no problem” he said. “If the 100% continues, that’s a big problem,” he added.

Mr. Gepty said most of the semiconductors are made by US companies in the Philippines and exported to the US. He noted the higher tariffs would pose problems for the US supply chain, particularly for its defense industry.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has not formally granted zero tariffs on US products, as negotiations over a reciprocal trade agreement remain ongoing, he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the Philippines will succeed in getting an exemption from the Trump tariff on key exports?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector and Government React To Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025

August 28, 2025August 27, 2025carlocarrasco

It is not surprising that both the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector of the Philippines and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) reacted to the filing of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 which was filed in the United States Senate, as reported separately by BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror and the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines BPO sector (sometimes referred to simply as the call center industry even though many local firms have gone beyond taking calls) is now a major part of the national economy with more than 1.7 million Filipinos employed, $35 billion in annual export revenues and the United States of America (USA) alone is the single largest market with 2024 export revenues reported at $25 billion (reported by BusinessMirror).

In the Filipino perspective, call centers are very important because they offer a lot of high-paying jobs for Filipinos who badly need employment. The so-called call center effect on local society and economics includes new stores and food vendors opening up nearby, the opening of new convenience stores operating 24/7, the established restaurants nearby serving customers around-the-clock, and the opening of new branches of banks. Of course, the income Filipinos earned from their BPO jobs enabled them to acquire new things, pay their bills, subscribed to digital services, and move into better residences while helping their families make ends meet.

Having been a call center agent myself a very long time ago, I have witnessed such socio-economic developments happen whenever a call center is present and I was in Cebu province.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA highlighting the reaction of the DTI. Some parts in boldface…

Diversification will help cushion the possible impact of the proposed “Keep Call Centers in America Act,” aimed to protect local jobs by removing federal grants to companies that have call centers outside the United States.

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry contributes a big part to the Philippine economy, with employment of around 1.4 million in 2024 and revenues of about USD38 billion. Around 70 percent of clients are based in the US.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said there are no discussions yet with officials of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) but expressed openness to talk about possible measures to help the sector.

“But for us, (the) DTI, of course, we’ll continue to help the IT-BPO (and) IBPAP businesses in whatever they need from us. Of course, we’ll assist the same way we’ve assisted in the past,” she said.

“We can’t just look at the US as the only market. The world is the market. If you look at their population as compared to the world, it will show you that we should really find other avenues to explore.”

Next, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) confirmed it is still evaluating the potential impact of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…

THE IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it is still evaluating the potential impact of the proposed Keep Call Centers in America act.

“It talks about US call centers so I really do not know who that will affect with the way that it is worded,” IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan R. Madrid said on the sidelines of an ECCP AI Forum.

“We need to understand it a little bit more. I think I know what their intention is. But I don’t know the likelihood of this passing. Obviously it is something we are monitoring, and with the way that it is worded, we need to study it more,” he added.

Introduced in the US Senate last month, the bill aims to impose restrictions on US firms outsourcing their call center operations.

In particular, the bill, if signed into law, will render employers outsource call center work overseas ineligible for new federal grants or guaranteed loans.

“I am speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce; we are discussing it and we will see. But we are all aligned on how we will manage this,” he said.

“While the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, we remain committed to keeping our stakeholders informed, providing timely guidance, and ensuring that the Philippine IT-BPM industry is well-positioned to adapt and thrive in a changing regulatory environment,” he said.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said that the proposed bill poses a “clear risk to the Philippine IT-BPM industry, especially in the call center segment.”

“By restricting access to US federal grants, contracts, and loans for companies that offshore customer service jobs or do not properly disclose them, the bill raises the regulatory and reputational costs for offshore operations,” he said via Viber .

He said the Philippine industry has been evolving beyond voice-based call centers, which are less exposed to call center-specific legislation.

“We now see strong growth in high-value services such as finance, healthcare information management, legal process outsourcing, software development, and data analytics,” he said.

With the US Senate’s proposal to bring back call centers to the US, he said that the Philippines must continue to move up the value chain to reduce exposure to such policies.

“While the bill underscores vulnerabilities in our call center export model, it also reinforces the importance of accelerating investment in high-value, tech-enabled services where the Philippines can maintain global competitiveness,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the bill could be “a potential drag on future growth of the industry.”

For this year, the IT-BPM industry is expected to generate $40 billion in export revenue and increase its workforce to 1.9 million.

To examine the details of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, click here and here.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the IT-BPM sector of the Philippines has what it takes to protect itself from whatever effects the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 could create if ever it gets signed into law? Do you personally know anyone who is working in a BPO firm or a call center here in the Philippines? What kind of assistance do you think the national government will offer to the IT-BPM sector? Do you think the existing call centers should search for English-speaking clients in England, Ireland, Scotland, Israel and the like?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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