Philippines expands outsourcing sector as demand for virtual assistants soars

Demand for Filipino virtual assistants more than doubled in the second quarter of 2026, with client sign‑ups rising 110 % from Q1, according to recruitment firm VA Masters. The firm reports that hiring a Filipino VA can save businesses up to 80 % compared with local recruitment, though only 0.2 % of applicants secure a position. Successful hires typically have fluent English and at least three years of experience.

On July 23, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Administrative Order No. 45, allowing the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to evaluate applications for new information‑technology parks in Metro Manila. The move aims to attract higher‑value offshore work such as software engineering, finance, healthcare documentation and AI services, while balancing development of provincial hubs like Cebu and Davao.