With a bullish outlook in the manufacturing industry in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry is targeting to develop 128,000 engineers and technicians by 2028 to support the S&E industry.
This was revealed by Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo during the recent S&E Media Roundtable.
“From micro-engineers to TESDA-certified technicians, licensed engineers to PhD and masters graduates, we will need their skills and capabilities to move the semiconductor and electronics industry forward,” Rodolfo said.
The DTI-BOI, the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and the Center for Integrated Circuits and Devices Research (CIDR) pledged to level up the Filipino workforce’s skills to bolster the semiconductor industry in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dan Lachica, President of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. underscored the need for upskilling the workforce to ensure that we have enough talents to seize the enormous potential of the country’s semiconductor and electronics industry.
While Undersecretary Rodolfo noted the competitive edge of the Filipinos’ skills and attitude. “Compared to other countries, the Philippines has a young workforce population with talent and skills recognized by companies worldwide. He added that the challenge for the government is to harness the workers’ talent,” he explained.
“There is a vibrant opportunity for you to work in the industry,” Undersecretary Rodolfo told students, recognizing the critical role of skilled labor in boosting the country’s position as a strategic partner and regional hub for electronics manufacturing. It can be made possible with continued collaboration with other government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), other NGAs, local government units (LGUs), and the academe.
According to Dr. Dan Lachica, President of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI), students must be informed of the country’s semiconductor industry opportunities to increase the workforce.
Mr. Earl Qua, President of EIAPI (Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines Inc., underscored the significance of a government-academe tie to enable students to become job-ready in the semiconductor and electronics industry.
“Magaling talaga ang mga Pilipino [Filipinos are really skillful], and the stronger partnership between the academe and the industry could only make them better,” Mr. Qua said in the roundtable discussion.
Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa of the BOI’s Industry Development Services (IDS) pointed out that the target number of workers can be achieved by looking at the specific requirements of the industry and tapping academic institutions and partner agencies in the education sector, i.e. DepEd, TESDA and CHED, for advocacies to build the future workforce, from our junior and senior high school students to higher education students, better understand and appreciate the local S&E industry.
Through the S&E Working Group co-chaired by the BOI and the SEIPI, the government implements the Product and Technology Holistic Strategy (PATHS), which identifies new, emerging, and future-ready products and technologies that the Philippines should work on in the next five years to develop a niche in the global market; the right conditions will create an environment that is conducive to the transfer of new technologies to the Philippines and the shift to higher-value manufacturing; and the right socio-economic environment that will sustain the growth of the S&E industry.
In her presentation, Engr. Niñaliza H. Escorial, Deputy Executive Director, DOST PCIEERD, discussed the initiatives of the DOST to boost the semiconductor industry through upskilling and career development. According to the DOST, there are three ways to uplift the electronics sector: more collaboration with industry, additional funds for R&D, and development of programs for Filipino innovators.
Meanwhile. Dr. Louis Alarcon, Head – Microelectronics Department, University of the Philippines and Director, CIDR presented the opportunities and challenges to fill the gap of the lack of workforce in IC Design. Dr. Alarcon underscored the huge role of Integrated circuits (ICs) in the development of the country’s S&E industry.
The often-overlooked diminutive integrated circuit is the cornerstone of all our modern electronic devices and is continuously enabling advancements in computing, telecommunications, automotive, power, and other industries
“There is a significant shortage of graduate-level personnel, which is hindering our ability to attract investments in advanced technology,” Dr. Alarcon stated. He highlighted that the Center for Integrated Circuits and Devices Research (CIDR), supported by the mirror lab ecosystem, serves as a platform for developing graduate-level talent and facilitates the sharing of resources and faculty. With the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI), CIDR can be expanded to a national scale, he added.
The media roundtable is a collaborative effort involving officials from government agencies and industry associations, SEIPI, and the Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines Inc. (EIAPI), along with key academic and industry stakeholders.
The Philippine semiconductor and electronics (S&E) industry remains the top contributor to PH’s total exports accounting for around 56.9% or USD 41.91 billion in 2023, and the 3rd largest contributor to the country’s manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) accounting for 11% of the total manufacturing GVA for the same period. Globally, the Philippines accounted for 2.7% of world IC exports and has been among the top 10 exporters for at least the last decade with a CAGR of 7.9%.
The Philippines is a successful hub for Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (SMS) with strengths in assembly, test, and packaging, as well as in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) with strengths in complex PCB assembly, box build, and systems assembly with growing capabilities in Design and Development and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM). Moreover, the country is also an emerging player in IC Design, with the presence of both multinational companies and Filipino firms.
The government has been relentless in promoting the Philippines as a regional hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing and services. The S&E industry is identified as one of the priority industries for growth and development building on our competitive advantage with our young and talented workforce, rich natural resources, and the country’s strategic location.