Artificial intelligence (AI) could worsen the digital divide in the Philippines unless the government quickly strengthens data systems, expands digital connectivity, and implements safeguards, experts said at a conference on Sept. 18, 2025.
The 11th Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC), organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), carried the theme “Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI.”
PIDS president Philip Arnold Tuaño described AI as both a powerful tool and a looming threat.
“AI is now an enabler of connections, a driver of knowledge creation, and a catalyst for adaptation in nearly every field,” he said. However, he cautioned that without better infrastructure, skills and governance, its benefits would remain concentrated.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the challenge is no longer hypothetical. “AI is here,” he said. “Without decisive action, only large corporations and urban centers will benefit, leaving rural communities and small enterprises further behind.”
Balisacan cited the recently passed Konektadong Pinoy Law, or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, which introduces reforms to boost telecommunications competition, lower costs, and improve access. The measure, he said, is part of ensuring no Filipino is left behind.
Christopher Lamont of Tokyo International University said governments should view AI as a governance challenge, not merely a technical one.
“The real test of AI is not just whether it spurs growth, but whether it safeguards citizens,” he said, calling for a precautionary, rights-based approach.
From a local perspective, Naoto Kanehira, a senior digital development specialist at the World Bank, said fragmented and unreliable data sets hinder the country’s capacity to use AI effectively.
“Data is often inaccurate, incomplete, not sharable, or even not machine-readable,” he said. Without reliable data, he added, AI cannot deliver smarter, faster public services.
Information and communications technology policy analyst Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos said that without urgent investments in broadband and digital literacy, “AI will empower those already connected while excluding those still left behind.”
Arifah Sharifuddin of the Tech for Good Institute cautioned that AI models developed abroad could not simply be transplanted to the Philippines without risking bias and failing to meet local needs.
Science and Technology Undersecretary Leah Buendia urged regulators to encourage innovation while protecting citizens from risks such as misinformation and privacy breaches.
She identified three key commitments to advance AI in the Philippines: ensuring that ethical considerations, human rights, and sustainability remain at the forefront; fostering collaborative governance; and preparing institutions to govern effectively in the age of AI.
“Let us remember that good governance is not measured by how advanced our technologies are, but how well they advance the security and prosperity of our people,” she said.
