(Conclusion)

Big technology companies abroad have taken advantage of the "brilliance" of Filipinos for decades, thus there's no reason why the Philippines cannot be a tech giant itself.

SARTiNE CEO Renezar Deunida, having immersed himself deep in the IT sector, including a long stint with the United Nations, said that companies like Facebook, Google and Big Bank Theories have been employing numerous Filipinos.

He averred that many breakthroughs and innovations can be credited to Filipinos working abroad, although most are not given the recognition to occupy richly deserved top positions.

Deunida made the observation during a recent interview by Gising Na!, Daily Tribune's digital show simulcast on RJTV.

"As I've seen it, many of our countrymen are at the core of tech companies, but they are denied the opportunity to reach the top even if without their skills many companies would flop," Deunida said.

"It just so happens that there are limited opportunities in the Philippines, thus many are forced to work overseas. When I was in the United States, IT experts really have high regard for Filipinos," he added.

Philippine Statistics Authority data on overseas Filipino workers released this year covering the year 2020 showed there were about 1.7 million documented Filipino workers abroad.

Adaptability

Of the figure, only 2.9 percent occupied managerial positions, 16.9 percent were categorized professionals and 15.7 percent were in technical and allied posts.

The 45-year-old Deunida said that among the traits of Filipino workers in the technology sector are their adaptability and willingness to acquire new skills.

"Given state-of-the-art tools, Filipinos abroad really shine, including those employed in Singapore, about 17,000 IT specialists at one time," he said.

He emphasized that the issue of brain drain is very real, adding government should provide the impetus to help the local tech sector and spur reverse migration.