What was reported

The Philippine Star reported that IBPAP president and chief executive Jack Madrid expects the Philippine IT-BPM industry to reach $42 billion in revenue in 2026, compared with $40.3 billion reported for the previous year.

Madrid linked further growth to global capability centers—offices that handle specialist work for a company worldwide—and people trained to use AI. IBPAP’s own website currently describes the industry as having about 1.9 million workers and $40 billion in generated revenue.

What it means for workers

The message is not that every BPO job suddenly requires software engineering. It means more roles may expect people to check AI output, improve a workflow, handle unusual cases, protect customer data and explain decisions clearly.

The $42 billion figure is an industry projection. It should not be read as a guarantee of a particular number of jobs, pay increases or growth at every company.

Useful next steps

  • Learn one AI-assisted workflow connected to your current role, then practise checking its output.
  • Keep your communication, customer judgment, privacy and problem-solving skills current.
  • Ask employers which tools they use and what training they provide before paying for a course.
  • Watch actual hiring, training and revenue results instead of relying on a target alone.

Sources & further reading

Source note. The linked sources support the news in this article. The explanations and suggested next steps are from Pinoy AI Works.