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COMPLETE GUIDE 15 min read

If you're a US company looking to hire developers, you've probably noticed that American developers charge $100-200 per hour. That's $200,000+ annually for a single senior developer. But what if you could get the same quality for 60% less?

That's exactly what thousands of US companies are doing by hiring Filipino developers. In this guide, I'll share everything I've learned from 15+ years of working with international clients as a Filipino developer myself.

1. Why Hire Filipino Developers?

The Philippines has become the #1 destination for US companies hiring offshore developers. Here's why:

English Fluency

The Philippines is the 3rd largest English-speaking country in the world. With 98% English literacy rate, communication is never an issue. Unlike other offshore destinations where language barriers cause costly misunderstandings, Filipino developers communicate fluently in American English.

Most Filipinos grow up watching American TV shows, consuming American media, and learning English from elementary school. This cultural familiarity makes collaboration seamless.

Western Business Culture

Due to historical ties with the US, Filipino business culture closely mirrors American practices. Filipino developers understand concepts like sprint planning, daily standups, and agile methodologies without cultural translation issues.

Strong Technical Education

The Philippines produces over 100,000 IT graduates annually. Top universities like Ateneo, UP, and De La Salle have rigorous computer science programs that produce world-class talent.

Timezone Flexibility

Filipino developers are known for their flexibility. While the Philippines is 12-15 hours ahead of US timezones, most Filipino developers are willing to work overlapping hours:

• For EST: 8 AM - 12 PM overlap (8 PM - 12 AM Manila)
• For PST: 5 PM - 9 PM overlap (9 AM - 1 PM Manila)

2. Cost Comparison: Philippines vs US Developers

Let's look at the real numbers:

Annual savings example: If you hire a mid-level developer full-time, you'd pay approximately $250,000/year in the US (including benefits). The same developer in the Philippines costs around $80,000/year. That's $170,000 saved annually - per developer.

3. Where to Find Filipino Developers

Option 1: Direct Hiring Platforms

• OnlineJobs.ph - The largest Filipino remote job board. Best for finding full-time employees.
• Upwork - Good for project-based work. More expensive due to platform fees.
• LinkedIn - Great for senior developers and specialized roles.

Option 2: Outsourcing Agencies (Recommended)

Agencies like DevWithZach handle the vetting, contracts, payments, and HR so you can focus on building. This is the best option if you:

• Don't want to deal with international payroll
• Need developers quickly (48-hour matching)
• Want pre-vetted, tested developers
• Need replacement guarantees

4. The Vetting Process

Here's the 5-step vetting process I recommend:

5. Interview Questions to Ask

Technical Questions

• "Walk me through a challenging bug you fixed recently. How did you debug it?"
• "How would you architect [specific feature relevant to your project]?"
• "What's your approach to code reviews?"

Communication Questions

• "Tell me about a time you had to push back on a client's request. How did you handle it?"
• "How do you handle situations where you're stuck and need help?"
• "What's your preferred communication style for async work?"

Remote Work Questions

• "What's your home office setup like? Do you have backup internet?"
• "What hours are you available for overlap with US timezones?"
• "How do you handle distractions when working from home?"

6. Managing Remote Filipino Teams

Tools You'll Need

• Communication: Slack or Microsoft Teams
• Video Calls: Zoom or Google Meet
• Project Management: Jira, Asana, or Linear
• Documentation: Notion or Confluence
• Code: GitHub or GitLab
• Time Tracking: Hubstaff or Time Doctor (optional)

Best Practices

1. Over-communicate: In remote work, there's no such thing as too much communication.
2. Document everything: Written specs prevent misunderstandings.
3. Have daily standups: 15-minute syncs keep everyone aligned.
4. Record video calls: For team members who couldn't attend live.
5. Build relationships: Take time for non-work chat. Filipino culture values personal connections.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes US Companies Make

1. Hiring the cheapest option

   You get what you pay for. A $15/hr developer will cost you more in the long run than a $40/hr developer who delivers quality code.

2. Micromanaging

   Filipino developers are professionals. Give them ownership and autonomy. Micromanaging destroys morale and productivity.

3. Ignoring cultural holidays

   The Philippines has many holidays (especially around Christmas). Plan projects around these to avoid delays.

8. Legal & Compliance

Intellectual Property Protection

The Philippines is a WTO member with strong IP laws. Always have developers sign:

• NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement for confidential information
• IP Assignment - Ensures all code belongs to your company
• Service Agreement - Defines scope, payment terms, and termination clauses

US Compliance

If you're hiring for a US company that handles sensitive data, ensure your Filipino developers understand and comply with:

• SOX - For financial data handling
• HIPAA - For healthcare data
• CCPA - For California consumer data
• PCI-DSS - For payment card data

Frequently Asked Questions