More than 3,000 infrastructure projects worth nearly ₱216 billion were delayed or unimplemented in the Philippines last year.
Another ₱242 billion in government-funded projects, including roads, hospitals, schools, and irrigation systems, were flagged as either defective, stalled, or abandoned.
Most recently, it was reported that the Marcos administration confirmed that ₱1 trillion worth of ODA-funded projects are delayed.
From healthcare to transportation, the country is falling behind in fulfilling promises made to the public. While there are several reasons, one critical factor for projects to be completed successfully is the presence of a skilled project professional.
The public rarely reads about it in the headlines, but today, the world lacks skilled project professionals to move and manage projects.
In an interview with SoHyun Kang, Managing Director (Asia Pacific) of Project Management Institute (PMI), she emphasized the growing urgency in closing the gap.
According to PMI’s Global Project Management Talent Gap Report, there are currently up to 40 million project professionals worldwide. However, by 2035, the global economy will require up to 30 million more to meet rising demands.
“In the Philippines, we have estimated that there are up to 237,000 project professionals,” Kang said. “To meet growth demands, the country will need up to 220,000 more project professionals by 2035.
With this, she explained that this sharp demand is being driven by three major forces: technology transformation, sustainability, energy transition, and infrastructure expansion in Southeast Asia.
“If a project fails or is delayed, you can look at three aspects: budget, schedule, and scope. If one of these elements breaks down, the outcome is compromised,” Kang said.
While funding, weather, and policy all play a role, Kang emphasized the importance of having professionals who know how to lead a project from start to finish.
Furthermore, Kang believes the Philippines is well-positioned to address the gap and must act promptly.
She noted that the Philippines is home to roughly 5,000 certified Project Management Professionals (PMPs) and an active local PMI Chapter.
Beyond that, Kang said the Philippines ’history as a regional hub for multinational companies has helped local talent develop a familiarity with international standards.
“I’ve seen it firsthand. Multinational companies, BPOs, or regional delivery centers are placing their Asia Pacific hubs here,” she said.
Kang observed that the Philippines benefits from a highly skilled and youthful workforce, which makes local professionals more receptive to global standards and structured ways of working. The next hurdle for the Philippines is enabling local companies, particularly in sectors like manufacturing and construction, to compete on a global scale.
She noted that the Philippines already has two “great strengths,” such as a strong community culture and proven experience working with international clients.
Building the pipeline
Kang emphasized that becoming a project professional is not limited to people with technical backgrounds. What matters, she explained, is having foundational training and, eventually, earning relevant certifications as one advances in the field.
To support aspiring professionals, PMI offers entry points, such as Kickoff, a free online learning tool, and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, designed for beginners, to introduce young professionals to essential tools like basic project workflows.
Beyond tools, she emphasized the importance of business acumen and soft skills. “It doesn’t mean anyone can do projects successfully. It requires a certain technical skill set. Business acumen, communication, software skills, and leadership abilities are just as important as tools and frameworks.”
The government’s role in upskilling
In the public sector, the need for professional project management is even more urgent.
“Public sector projects involve taxpayers’ money, which makes them sensitive to cost overruns. When budgets are exceeded, these projects often attract media attention, and the focus quickly turns to assigning blame.”
However, she said, the solution is not to pour in more resources. It’s policy-backed upskilling.
“Many countries have a national skill development framework. I believe the Philippines has a Philippine Qualifications Framework. That’s one way the public sector can encourage that.”
The PQF is a national policy that standardizes qualifications across education and employment. It upskills workers with industry needs, improves job readiness, supports career progression, and promotes global understanding of Filipino qualifications.
Moreover, Kang believes that building internal project delivery capabilities across local government units and state universities will be critical to leading future projects successfully.
“If the projects fail again, then the country’s citizens will be affected. For the long term, you are risking your nation’s development,” she said.
AI, agility, and opportunity
Looking ahead, Kang discussed the evolving landscape of project work, including the role of artificial intelligence and the growing complexity of global delivery.
She explained that while generative AI may automate certain aspects of project management, such as documentation, scheduling, or task tracking, it will also create new types of projects for business transformation.
For Kang, the future belongs to professionals who can adapt quickly and navigate uncertainty.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global nonprofit organization that sets the standard for project management excellence, being the first and largest global association for project professionals. It offers internationally recognized certifications, training programs, and resources to help professionals deliver projects more effectively across various industries, including IT, construction, healthcare, and finance. Kang leads market growth and drives value creation for PMI across the Asia Pacific region. She currently oversees strategic functions including chapter engagement, volunteer development, corporate partnerships, channel sales, marketing and communications, and major regional events across 42 countries
