THE Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has recommended releasing P650 million from the Higher Education Development Fund to finance artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling programs in colleges and universities next year, as part of a broader push to prepare the Philippine workforce for the AI-driven economy.
The proposal, presented during the fifth joint meeting of the PSAC Education and Jobs Sector Group and the Digital Infrastructure Sector Group in Malacañang, also includes the creation of a National AI Implementation Taskforce to coordinate the rollout of the country’s National AI Strategy (NAIS PH).
PSAC said the funding, which will be coursed through the Commission on Higher Education, aims to expand the country’s AI talent pipeline by equipping students with skills needed for emerging industries.
The council said the proposed taskforce would bring together government agencies, industry groups, academe and other stakeholders under a single implementation framework to address fragmented AI initiatives and accelerate adoption across the economy.
Sabin Aboitiz, PSAC strategic convenor and president and chief executive officer of the Aboitiz Group, said the Philippines already has an AI strategy but needs stronger coordination to translate it into concrete outcomes.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future—it is already changing the way people work, learn, and do business today,” Aboitiz said.
“Our priority is to make sure every Filipino has the opportunity to benefit from AI by creating better jobs, developing new skills, and strengthening industries that will drive long-term economic growth,” he added. / KOC