President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday launched a nationwide artificial intelligence program in public education that aims to train up to 1.5 million Filipinos while establishing the country’s first ethical framework for AI use in schools.
Speaking at Quezon City Science High School, Marcos said the Department of Education’s (AGAP) Project Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence (AGAP.AI) is designed to ensure students, teachers and parents can use AI responsibly as the technology rapidly reshapes learning and work.
Mr. Marcos said the program marks “a new era” for Philippine education as the government seeks to prepare students, teachers and parents for a technology-driven future.
“AI is shaping the way that we communicate and the way that we solve everyday problems,” he said.
“Our responsibility now is to ensure that our students use AI confidently and ethically, enabling them to stay ahead in this learning journey that they are going through,” the President added.
Under the initiative, DepEd is drafting the Foundational Guidelines on AI in Basic Education, which Mr. Marcos described as the Philippines’ first national framework governing the ethical and responsible use of AI in schools.
The guidelines are being developed through consultations with students, parents, teachers, AI experts and education partners to ensure inclusivity and data privacy safeguards.
A central pillar of AGAP.AI is a national AI skills training program, supported by the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org, that is expected to reach up to 1.5 million learners, educators and parents.
“These training courses will cover relevant topics, including responsible use, detecting misinformation, privacy and security, and AI literacy,” the president said.
Mr. Marcos said teachers will receive AI-focused training modules to help them integrate the technology into classroom instruction while keeping pace with rapidly evolving tools.
DepEd will also pilot AI-powered platforms to improve classroom teaching and school operations, with safeguards to protect data privacy and fairness.
Mr. Marcos, however, cautioned students against treating AI as a substitute for effort and discipline, saying technology should support, not replace, learning and critical thinking.
“There are still some things technology cannot do for us. Technology cannot replace discipline. It cannot replace effort. It cannot replace the habit of showing up prepared and ready to learn. It cannot replace hard work,” he said.
According to the President, as ASEAN chair this year, the Philippines is also pushing for a harmonized, human-centered AI ecosystem in Southeast Asia, focusing on agriculture, finance, health care, manufacturing and education.
