New York-based IT-BPO firm Anthem expanding in PH

MANILA – Anthem, Inc., a New York-based company in the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) specializing in healthcare services, is expanding in the Philippines.

A statement on Sunday said this investment plan was expressed by the company in a virtual meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Chairman Ramon Lopez, and DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo.

Anthem Diversified Business Group chief operating officer Rajat Puri said the firm remains optimistic with the opportunities in the Philippines as it also eyes to explore prospects in the pharmaceutical technology sector.

Anthem Strategic Operations head Stella Aquino said it is looking into prospects in Iloilo as the province has a strong base of nursing talent.

Legato Health Technologies, the local arm of Anthem, started its Philippine operations in November 2018 with investments of PHP950 million employing 1,000 personnel.

For the past four years, the company grew its headcount to 8,000.

“With the Duterte administration’s continued push for major economic reforms, supplemented by the country’s sound policies and systems in place, we are beginning to see increasing interest in many new sectors such as those related to telecommunications, broadband, interconnectivity, satellite services, and other digital infrastructure, such as data centers for hyperscalers and the corresponding renewable energy projects that are expected to serve as the source of power for these projects,” Lopez said.

He added the IT-BPO industry can reap the benefits of better connectivity in the country with the increasing investments in telecommunications infrastructures.

Rodolfo told Anthem executives that the BOI recently approved a telecommunications infrastructure project amounting to PHP155 billion.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will also bring its first internet over satellite business in Southeast Asia to the Philippines.

SpaceX and BOI are also advancing their talks on the former’s investment plans here.

“Infrastructure developments in the countryside will mean better economic activities and more opportunities in other areas of the country. Regional development has always been one of the key priorities of the Duterte Administration that will ensure the long-term, inclusive, and sustainable growth of our economy, beyond administrations and across generations,” Lopez added.