MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved "in principle" the proposed P60-million budget meant for the local outsourcing sector, an official told INQUIRER.net Thursday.

Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III confirmed this development in an interview during a Microsoft press briefing.

"It has already been approved in principle by the DBM," Roxas-Chua said.

The CICT chief, however, noted there are still no details as to when DBM would disburse the budget to his office.

Roxas-Chua said the budget would be used in a nationwide skills assessment the commission intends to conduct. “This will be an inventory of the talent we now have," he added.

Part of the budget would also go to the promotion of the Philippine outsourcing industry abroad.

"It will also go to promoting the Philippines abroad and a portion of this will fund trade missions and similar efforts," the official added.

He said the CICT is also expecting another billion pesos’ worth of “e-government" fund this year to finance government computerization projects.