The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) on Saturday welcomed the government’s approval of expanded work-from-home flexibility for registered business enterprises, calling it a timely measure that will help the IT-BPM industry stay resilient amid rising operational pressures.
The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) on Friday issued Resolution No. 005-2026, authorizing investment promotion agencies to allow temporary work-from-home arrangements of up to 90 percent for RBEs with registered projects or activities.
For IBPAP, the move is more than a policy adjustment. It is an immediate operational boost for an industry navigating higher transportation costs and an increasingly unpredictable business environment.
IBPAP president and chief executive officer Jack Madrid said the approval highlights the value of close coordination between government and industry in crafting practical responses to the sector’s changing needs.
He said the decision demonstrates “how strong industry-government collaboration can translate into practical solutions for the IT-BPM sector’s evolving operational needs.”
In a statement, IBPAP said the expanded WFH option would provide much-needed relief for both companies and employees by easing cost pressures while giving firms greater flexibility in managing their workforce.
The group added that the arrangement would allow companies to remain agile, sustain uninterrupted service delivery, and continue meeting the expectations of global clients despite shifting operating conditions.
IBPAP had earlier pushed for the expanded work-from-home setup before the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), citing the need to cushion the impact of possible disruptions linked to rising transportation expenses.
Under the approved resolution, RBEs may place up to 90 percent of their total workforce — or employees directly engaged in registered projects or activities — under work-from-home arrangements.
The resolution also gives the concerned investment promotion agency discretion to impose a lower ceiling, provided it does not fall below 50 percent of the workforce, depending on operational requirements and the nature of the enterprise’s activities.