PSAC pushes AI training in schools

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) – Jobs and Education Sector is urging the immediate rollout of a National AI Upskilling Roadmap in schools to keep up with global trends.

PSAC said on Friday the roadmap should be implemented with the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines.

The program will provide access to AI education, from basic digital skills to advanced training, and will support the Department of Science and Technology’s National AI Strategy. It will also be part of The Second Congressional Commission on Educatio​n's (EDCOM 2​) National Education and Workforce Development Plan.

“The AI tsunami is no longer coming, it is already here. And in a country where millions risk being left behind by automation, misinformation, and digital exclusion, the National AI Upskilling Roadmap is an urgent necessity,” PSAC Education and Jobs Committee Co-Lead Fred Ayala said. 

“This is about empowering every Filipino, regardless of age or background, with the skills and confidence to survive, thrive, and lead in an AI-driven world. We cannot afford to wait,” he added.

PSAC also recommended the issuance of an Executive Order creating a Cabinet Cluster for Education composed of DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to ensure better coordination in implementing EDCOM 2’s reforms. The proposal aligns with the concurrent resolution passed by Congress last 11 June.

“Our goal is simple: create real opportunities for Filipinos to thrive in a fast-changing world,” said Sabin Aboitiz, PSAC Strategic Lead Convenor and Aboitiz Group President and CEO. “Through stronger collaboration between the private sector and government, we can turn our shared vision into action.”

To support industrial development, PSAC also pushed for a “One-Stop Shop” involving the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry, along with other concerned agencies to resolve regulatory issues in sectors like semiconductors, electronics, and smart manufacturing.

PSAC also cited ongoing programs like the SM J.O.B.S. initiative with DOLE, which reached over 32,000 job seekers and hired nearly 5,000 during nationwide job fairs.It reported that the enhanced Senior High School work immersion program will roll out nationwide in SY 2025–2026 after a successful mini-pilot with a 96 percent completion rate.

Meanwhile, the Digital Leadership Training Program for civil servants is being expanded to reach 50,000 learners by 2027 through DICT, the Civil Service Institute, and private sector partners.