Saving our dollar earnersIn the near absence of a vital manufacturing sector and an agricultural sector that’s terribly underperforming, our economy is dependent on just two legs: OFW remittances and BPO earnings. Indeed, according to Manny Geslani, a manpower industry expert, new hires for Middle East countries dropped in 2025. Middle Eastern nations are also raising qualifications, requiring more certified and professional workers rather than low-skilled labor. The Economist, in an article last week, reported that “most workers still use AI mainly for writing assistance and information searches. Millions of unemployed former BPO workers will have nowhere to go.

Source: Philippine Star March 03, 2026 16:40 UTC