President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the Department of Education’s (DepEd) artificial intelligence initiative, Project Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence (AGAP.AI), positioning it as a national framework for introducing AI into basic education as early as 2026.

AGAP.AI is a partnership between DepEd and the ASEAN Foundation and is aligned with the ASEAN Vision 2045. Marcos said the program aims to “bridge the gap between technology and education,” while preparing students to use AI “confidently and ethically.”

At the center of the initiative is the Foundational Guidelines on AI in Basic Education, which DepEd said will serve as the country’s first national framework governing AI use in classrooms.

The guidelines are still being finalized and are expected to set standards on responsible use, data privacy, learner protection and inclusivity.

DepEd also plans a nationwide AI training program targeting up to 1.5 million participants in 2026, including learners, teachers, and parents. Training modules will cover AI fundamentals, misinformation detection, privacy, and ethical use. The program is funded by the ASEAN Foundation and supported by Google.org.

The rollout, however, comes as unresolved issues persist over connectivity, data security, and uneven access across public schools.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the program is intended to strengthen teaching and school governance, not replace traditional learning. He acknowledged concerns raised by teachers about AI-assisted cheating and said safeguards would be included in training.

“AI should not replace hard work, actual studying, or reading,” Angara said, adding that ethical use would be emphasized.

Angara also raised unresolved policy questions, including whether AI systems and sensitive education data would be hosted locally. He said hosting “sovereign AI” infrastructure in the Philippines is ideal but flagged electricity supply and nationwide connectivity as potential constraints.