The Philippine government and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) – Education and Job Sector Group met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in education and job creation.

During the meeting, PSAC presented a detailed plan to implement “enterprise-based education” and introduce AI training programs to boost AI literacy among young Filipinos in response to the growing global demand for AI skills.

“The upscaling initiative using AI will help expand AI literacy in the country,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday.

The private sector is also working to equip current employees with up-to-date knowledge of AI developments, preparing them for an AI-driven future. These efforts aim to strengthen the country’s capacity in AI usage and system creation.

Private companies are exploring ways to immerse students in real-world workplace settings that use AI, giving them hands-on experience with productivity-enhancing tools and workflows.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included the state of the Philippine labor market, developments in the semiconductor industry, and education reform.

PSAC also reported strong outcomes from recent job fairs. During the Labor Day celebrations in May, 2,285 jobseekers were hired on the spot across 20 simultaneous job fairs. Another 2,372 applicants were hired during Independence Day celebrations from 28 job fairs nationwide.

Last month, President Marcos instructed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to assess the country’s national strategy on AI.

He also tasked the DOST to continue studying the benefits and risks of AI and adopt best practices from other countries to shape the Philippines’ approach to the technology.