Philippines utilises AI, IT, digitalisation for economic growth

In the latest State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he said that?the country is embracing?artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation. Marcos claimed the government has made advancements in digitalisation for the education, business, and infrastructure sectors among others.?

Earlier this month, the country’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0) and the Center for AI Research (CAIR), marking a step towards an AI-powered future for the country.?? ?

Impact of digitalisation on government efficiency

“More and more systems are now digital and cashless, benefiting individuals, MSMEs, and agricultural workers alike,” he stated. This digital shift has streamlined transactions and commercial exchanges, addressing longstanding issues of fragmented and overlapping procedures.?

Marcos also highlighted the government’s support for startups and research and development (R&D). “Relevant scholarships and R&D grants will continue to be available, aligned with our agenda to foster startups and commercialize R&D outputs,” he said. The government is also building infrastructure to support ethical AI development for practical applications. ?

Supporting innovation and higher education

Marcos also shared that the Philippine higher education system is gaining international recognition with advanced learning technologies, including robotics, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT), being introduced in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) innovation centres. ?

“Highly technical and professional level training courses will soon be launched, notably in cyber security and in the creative industries,” Marcos added.?

Similarly, as we relentlessly address the classroom gap, the digital gap must also be bridged with equal intensity.

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) July 22, 2024

Digitalisation has also impacted job placement and business registrations. Marcos said the government have improved labour industry coordination through IT capabilities, achieving a job placement success rate of 98%. ?

Improving infrastructure

“The expedited processing of our infrastructure flagship projects under the Build Better More program shall follow suit,” Marcos announced. ??

“We are also building essential infrastructure linkages to support the ethical development of artificial intelligence systems for high impact practical applications since the nation’s foray into space technology.”?

Commitment to IT development and cybersecurity

Marcos directed government agencies to ensure that the speed and quality of IT development align with the Philippines’ economic aspirations. He emphasised the importance of a robust cyber-defense system, referencing the recently launched National Cybersecurity Plan. “With these said, I have directed the agencies concerned to ensure that the speed and quality of our IT development always mirrors the pace and trajectory of our economic aspirations,” the President affirmed.?

In his address, Marcos noted continuous upgrades in the country’s power and internet services, enhancing both capacity and connectivity. He assured that infrastructure development remains strategic and on schedule, benefiting vital sectors such as education, health, energy, low-cost housing, transport, and information technology.?