Ernie Santiago, president, SEIPI, said exports have been slowly picking up since the start of the year, rising from a paltry 0.76% to as much as 9% in March. Santiago added that although investments pale in comparison with last year's statistics--clocking in a scanty $40-million compared to last year's $200-million--they are still significant factors in the growth of the industry.

"In order to survive the crisis, we must look ahead and prepare ourselves for the upturn. This way, we are put on the global 'radar screen' by showing we are still here and we'll still be here even after the crisis," he added.

SEIPI said the most relevant sector of the industry affected by the downturn is human resource, with companies having to lay off as much as 20 to 30% of the entire industry workforce to cut costs.

"But most of those who have been laid off are coming back. We are also partnering with government agencies such as TESDA for repooling and training programs that will enhance the skills of our workers," said Butch del Rosario, chairman, Association of SEIPI Personnel Administrators (ASPA).

ASPA is cooperating with other SEIPI networking channels such as the Association of SEIPI IT Executives and Professionals (ASITEP) in retraining the workforce and gearing them for the upturn. Jig Pedro, vice chairman, ASITEP, said: "But we are not only training them regarding the intricacies of the IT profession, we also want them to learn some of the business acumen required in the industry, because most of them are not very good at understanding the business."