The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) has agreed to allow information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) companies registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to implement a 30- percent hybrid work setup until September, according to Charito Plaza, PEZA director-general.
Plaza said in a forum hosted by Santos Knight Frank on Wednesday, officials of the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) were informed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez , FIRB co-chair, of the body’s approval.
Plaza said IBPAP also informed her the official memorandum would be issued by June 29, a day before the current administration ends its term.
“I hope this will put a close to this very controversial work-from home issue,” said Plaza on the reported approval of PEZA’s original request to allow registered business enterprises (RBEs) to continue their hybrid work of 30 percent and onsite work at 70 percent without losing their incentives. The arrangement will be until September when the state of calamity shall have ended.
“Nevertheless, the damage has been done… the worries, embarrassment suffered by our IT-BPM (companies) which were subjected to surprise inspections by the BIR,” she said.
BIR subsequently suspended the audit.
Plaza expressed hope the hybrid work setup will be adopted through a harmonized regulation to be issued by the new administration.
Plaza said IT-BPM RBEs were pressed to give up their incentives when FIRB issued an order to return on site last April since most of their workers preferred WFH.
Plaza said telling RBEs they can do hybrid work or else they will lose incentives is tantamount to “blackmail.”
“It’s like reneging on our contract with our investors,” Plaza added, noting that incentives were part of the privileges when the RBEs registered with PEZA. Irma Isip
