IN today's rapidly changing economy, outsourcing has become a popular strategy for businesses seeking to focus on their core competencies and strategic priorities while leaving non-core functions to third-party providers who can perform these functions more efficiently and effectively.

In the Philippines, I remember when the outsourcing industry experienced rapid growth in the early 2000s, with the government passing laws that encouraged foreign investors to do business in the country. Additionally, economic zones offered incentives to businesses that helped the industry continue to grow even more.