Philippines Charts Ambitious Course with National AI Strategy, Aiming for AI-Powered Future by 2028
The Philippines has officially embarked on a transformative journey with the launch of its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-PH). This comprehensive roadmap, formally approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in May 2025, signals a concerted national effort to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for inclusive innovation, smarter governance, and sustained economic growth, with an ambitious vision of an "AI-Powered New Philippines" by 2028.
A Unified National Vision for AI
Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the NAIS-PH was unveiled during the inaugural National AI Stakeholders’ Conference. This significant event brought together government officials, industry leaders, academics, and representatives from civil society, underscoring the collaborative spirit essential for realizing the strategy's objectives. DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. articulated the core philosophy, emphasizing that "One agency alone cannot and should not build the power of AI," and called for a "whole-of-nation endeavor" to ensure that the benefits of AI permeate every level of Philippine society.
The Philippines currently ranks 56th in the 2024 Government AI Readiness Index, a position Secretary Solidum views as a foundational "starting point." He acknowledged the nation's need to bolster its infrastructure development, which is fundamental to the advancement and deployment of AI technologies. To address this, the strategy leverages both public and private sector investments. Secretary Solidum noted that the private sector is significantly investing in the data centers required for sovereign data and infrastructure, while the DOST, through its grant-in-aid programs, is incrementally establishing its own infrastructure. The synergy between these efforts is expected to "tremendously increase the infrastructure need for AI."
Foundational Investments and Strategic Pillars
The NAIS-PH is built upon five critical pillars designed to guide the nation's AI development and implementation: Infrastructure, Workforce, Innovation, Data Governance and Policy, and Deployment. These pillars are being developed and implemented in phases from 2024 to 2028.
Since 2017, the country has been laying the groundwork for AI advancement through various initiatives. These include training researchers, acquiring high-performance computing infrastructure, and investing over P2.3 billion in 113 AI-related projects. These early efforts have already yielded practical innovations, such as AI-powered drones for disaster assessment and agriculture, and automated systems for industrial operations. By 2028, the DOST aims to significantly increase its high-performance computing (HPC) capacity, enabling Filipino researchers to develop more sophisticated AI models and enhance the country's global competitiveness.
Prioritizing Sovereign AI and Infrastructure Development
The conference highlighted the urgency of establishing a "Philippine Sovereign AI Infrastructure." Assistant Secretary Luis Miguel Planas of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced the ongoing establishment of a National Fiber Backbone, a crucial component for this initiative. This infrastructure is vital for ensuring data security and enabling the Philippines to fully leverage AI technologies independently.
The importance of robust infrastructure was further underscored by the recognition that the country’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, a significant economic driver employing 1.7 million people and generating US$35 billion, is already a major adopter of AI in high-demand roles. However, the Philippines faces competition from its ASEAN neighbors, who have made substantial investments in AI, emphasizing the need for accelerated development and strategic implementation.
Ethics, Governance, and Workforce Empowerment
A central tenet of the NAIS-PH is the commitment to the ethical and secure development and deployment of AI. Secretary Solidum firmly stated, "We now have to look at the ethical use of AI — life. Ethics before AI." This principle is being integrated into educational frameworks, with critical thinking being incorporated into the high school curriculum. While the DICT is actively working on upskilling programs, Assistant Secretary Planas acknowledged the current gap in policy guidelines for AI within the agency.
Stakeholders from the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAAP) reinforced the call for robust governance, urging legislative bodies to "pass legislative measures on trustworthy and reliable AI." They also advocated for a clear e-governance framework to solidify the nation's approach to sovereign AI. The strategy emphasizes that the nation's greatest asset is its people, and continuous upskilling and reskilling are paramount to navigating the evolving AI landscape.
Accelerating Innovation and Deployment
To foster a dynamic AI ecosystem, the strategy includes key initiatives such as the AI Factory and AI Refinery. These programs are designed to accelerate AI adoption by bridging the gap between academic research and industry needs. The AI Factory focuses on workforce development, infrastructure, governance, policy, and ethics, while the AI Refinery drives research, development, and innovation by connecting research hubs, the private sector, and academia to real-world applications.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also aligned its efforts by adopting the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0). This updated roadmap builds upon the original 2021 strategy, incorporating recent technological advancements like generative AI and refocusing strategic actions to address emerging topics. NAISR 2.0 outlines seven strategic imperatives: establishing a robust and networked environment, improving data access and value extraction, transforming education for AI talent, upskilling and reskilling the workforce, fostering an ethical AI ecosystem, advancing AI R&D, and accelerating innovation through strategic AI applications. These imperatives aim to overcome challenges hindering comprehensive AI adoption in the Philippines.
To boost research capacity, NAIS-PH includes plans for a substantial increase in high-performance computing (HPC) power by 2028. This will be complemented by regional HPC sites to support AI-driven research collaborations, positioning the Philippines as a leader in digital transformation. Decentralization is another key aspect, with regional offices being empowered to promote AI solutions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local industries. An AI Hub (i-Hub) will act as a central point to connect businesses with tailored AI solutions through autonomous AI agents.
A Future Shaped by AI
The collective efforts and partnerships under the NAIS-PH aim to ensure that by 2028, AI will be a significant driver of inclusive innovation, enhanced governance, community upliftment, and the development of globally competitive industries. The Philippines aspires to lead in AI-driven digital transformation and scientific innovation, fostering sustainable growth and economic resilience for all Filipinos.
AI Summary
The Philippines has officially launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-PH), a comprehensive roadmap approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in May 2025, with the aim of becoming an AI-powered nation by 2028. Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the strategy was unveiled during the 1st National AI Stakeholders’ Conference held at the Manila Hotel. DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the critical need for a "whole-of-nation endeavor," stressing that no single agency can achieve the vision alone. The strategy is built upon five key pillars: Infrastructure, Workforce, Innovation, Data Governance and Policy, and Deployment. Significant foundational investments have already been made, exceeding P2.3 billion across 113 AI-related projects since 2017, including researcher training and the acquisition of high-performance computing infrastructure. The Philippines aims to increase its high-performance computing capacity by 26-fold by 2028 to enable researchers to develop advanced AI models and compete globally. The strategy also highlights the urgency of developing "sovereign AI" and addresses the need for speed in adoption, noting that ASEAN neighbors have heavily invested in AI. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is contributing through the establishment of a National Fiber Backbone, a critical component for what is termed a "Philippine Sovereign AI Infrastructure." Ethical considerations are a central theme, with Secretary Solidum stating, "We now have to look at the ethical use of AI — life. Ethics before AI." Efforts are underway to integrate critical thinking into the high school curriculum, and upskilling programs are being implemented, though policy guidelines on AI are still being developed by the DICT. The Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAAP) has urged Congress to pass legislative measures on trustworthy AI and called for a clear e-governance framework. The strategy also involves the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which has adopted the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0), an update to the 2021 roadmap, incorporating generative AI and addressing emerging topics. NAISR 2.0 outlines seven strategic imperatives, including establishing a robust ecosystem, improving data access, transforming education, upskilling the workforce, fostering ethical AI, advancing R&D, and accelerating innovation. The Philippines has shown progress in AI readiness, moving up to 56th place in the Government AI Readiness Index 2024 from 65th in 2023. Key initiatives like the AI Factory and AI Refinery are designed to accelerate AI adoption by linking academic research with industry needs. The strategy emphasizes workforce development through upskilling and reskilling, encouraging higher education institutions to expand AI micro-credentials and continuing education programs, supported by platforms like Coursera and SPARTA. The NAIS-PH also plans for regional HPC sites to support AI-driven research collaborations and promote decentralized AI adoption for MSMEs through an AI Hub (i-Hub). The overarching goal is to position the Philippines as a leader in AI-driven digital transformation and scientific innovation, ensuring sustainable growth and economic resilience by 2028.