The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is gearing up to invest more than P2.6 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, aiming to position the Philippines as a regional leader in AI-driven innovation and development.
Speaking during the Philippine launch of the Global Human Development Report 2025 in Makati City, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the agency’s commitment to building a robust AI ecosystem through strategic investments across key sectors such as healthcare, education, mobility, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and emerging technologies.
To guide this ambitious effort, the DOST has developed a national AI roadmap focused on strengthening infrastructure and services, nurturing talent, advancing research and development, and aligning policies with scientific and technological progress.
A central part of this plan is the formation of a national AI think tank that will bring together government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector stakeholders to craft a cohesive national AI strategy.
The agency’s long-term AI framework, covering 2019 to 2029, is anchored on four pillars: infrastructure, talent and skills development, research and data, and inclusive stakeholder collaboration.
Solidum affirmed the DOST’s commitment to building the country’s AI capabilities through capacity-building programs, online learning platforms, upskilling initiatives, and ecosystem partnerships.
The Philippines has already made significant strides in this space. From 2018 to 2024, DOST channeled P1.4 billion into AI research and development.
Among the flagship projects it supported is the Computing and Archiving Research Environment (COARE), a high-performance computing facility that provides advanced data storage and analytics capabilities for local scientists.
Another key initiative is SkAI-Pinas, the Philippine Sky Artificial Intelligence Program, which uses big data and remote sensing to power a more sustainable and tech-enabled environmental monitoring system.
The Accelerated Earthquake Multi-Hazards Mapping and Risk Assessment Program (ACER) also uses AI to enhance disaster preparedness and response across the country.
In the area of human capital development, DOST’s AI Pinas Summer School and the SPARTA program (Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics R&D, Training, and Adoption) have trained over 49,000 Filipinos in data science and AI-related disciplines—equipping the workforce for an increasingly AI-driven economy.
Looking ahead, one of DOST’s most anticipated projects is the AI Virtual Hub, envisioned as a national center for advanced AI research and innovation. It will support local startups, facilitate collaborative R&D, and serve as a platform for nurturing future experts in the field.
These collective efforts have not gone unnoticed. According to the 2024 AI Readiness Index by Oxford Insights, the Philippines climbed from 65th place in 2023 to 56th in 2024—an encouraging sign of the country’s improving capacity to integrate AI into governance and development.
“Our commitment is clear,” Solidum said. “The DOST will continue to lead with foresight and collaboration to ensure that AI becomes a tool for empowerment and national progress.”