TLDR: The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in the Philippines has launched its National AI Strategy (NAIS-Phl), a comprehensive roadmap from 2024 to 2028 aimed at transforming the nation into a significant contributor in the global AI landscape. The strategy focuses on AI workforce development, infrastructure, governance, and ethical deployment across key sectors, complemented by a proposed AI Governance Act and the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Authority (AIDA).
The Philippines is making a strategic move to solidify its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) arena with the formalization of the National AI Strategy (NAIS-Phl). Proposed by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), this ambitious roadmap, spanning from 2024 to 2028, aims to shift the country’s role from merely an adopter of technology to an active contributor in the increasingly AI-driven world. The strategy was officially approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in May 2025, who emphasized the critical need to identify the most effective applications of AI for national development while carefully mitigating potential risks.
NAIS-Phl is built upon several key pillars designed to foster a robust AI ecosystem. These include AI workforce development, strengthening AI infrastructure, and establishing comprehensive AI governance, policy, and ethics frameworks. The strategy also emphasizes innovation, data governance, and the strategic deployment of AI across various sectors. These efforts are set to impact critical areas such as agriculture, healthcare, education, disaster resilience, creative industries, smart cities, and national security.
The Philippines has shown promising progress in its AI readiness. The UNCTAD ranks the country as ‘upper middle’ in global AI readiness, a performance exceeding expectations for a developing economy. Furthermore, the nation significantly improved its standing in the Government AI Readiness Index 2024, published by Oxford Insights, climbing to 56th place from 65th in 2023. This upward trajectory is attributed to the country’s digitally-native population, a large English-speaking workforce, and a burgeoning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector ripe for AI augmentation.
A crucial legislative component complementing NAIS-Phl is the newly proposed Philippine Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, filed by Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares. Inspired by the European Union’s framework, this act introduces a risk-based classification system for AI applications. It proposes an outright ban on ‘unacceptable risk’ applications like social scoring and mass facial recognition. ‘High-risk’ systems, such as predictive policing or hiring algorithms, will be subject to strict regulation, documentation, and human oversight. ‘Limited risk’ systems, like chatbots, will require transparency, while ‘minimal risk’ uses, such as AI for viral memes, are encouraged with minimal red tape. The bill underscores principles of transparency, data governance, technical documentation, and human oversight, advocating for these to be default by design.
To oversee the implementation and compliance of these strategies, the bill also proposes the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Authority (AIDA), envisioned as an attached agency of the DoST. This body will be responsible for strategy setting, coordination, and ensuring adherence to the new regulations, aiming to ensure AI systems deployed in public services are not opaque, biased, or exploitative, especially in a country grappling with disinformation and digital inequality.
DoST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. has articulated a vision for a unified national strategy where AI powers inclusive innovation, strengthens governance, uplifts communities, and drives globally competitive industries. He highlighted that current efforts are focused on building infrastructure, strengthening skills, advancing technologies, and shaping policies, all phased from 2024 to 2028. Secretary Solidum also emphasized the importance of a ‘Collaborative AI Ecosystem,’ anchored on four key elements: the ‘AI Factory’ for workforce development, infrastructure, governance, policy, and ethics; and the ‘AI Refinery’ for driving research, development, and innovation by connecting hubs, the private sector, and academia to real-world applications.
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The Philippines possesses unique advantages that position it well for AI development, including rapid adoption rates among Filipinos, a vibrant creative capital capable of leveraging generative AI (with creator protection), and community-driven innovation potential in areas like agri-tech and disaster response. The DoST is also promoting decentralized AI adoption by empowering its regional offices to introduce AI solutions to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local industries, with an ‘AI Hub’ (i-Hub) serving as a matchmaking center. While challenges in implementation, talent pipelines, infrastructure, and consistent leadership remain, the Philippines is now proactively shaping its AI future, playing offense rather than merely reacting to technological advancements.
