The Department of Education (DepEd) is working with Ministries of Education in Southeast Asia to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence-driven digital infrastructure in basic education, positioning technology as a practical tool to enhance learning outcomes and ease teachers’ daily tasks.
As part of this drive, DepEd actively engaged with education leaders, digital policy makers, and development partners at the 3rd Regional Policy Meeting of the AI Ready ASEAN Program held in Pasig City on Monday.
The Philippines’ participation in this regional initiative builds on Project AGAP.AI, DepEd’s flagship program on artificial intelligence in education. Through the AI Ready ASEAN program, approximately 796,000 Filipinos, including educators and learners, have already completed training on the basics of AI literacy.
“The Philippines does not view digital competition as a lonely journey. We stand ready to walk alongside our ASEAN neighbors, sharing insights, resources and firm commitments,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a message. “Together, we can build a digitally empowered region where growth is shared and progress is made collectively.”
“A future-proof ASEAN cannot be built solely on speculation and high-minded rhetoric. It must be rooted in the realities of people’s lives,” the Education Secretary added.
The conference was held under the ASEAN Foundation’s AI Ready ASEAN initiative with a grant from Google.org. This regional program aims to expand AI literacy in all ASEAN member states and promote responsible use of emerging technologies.
For Filipino learners, this regional collaboration aims to provide more accessible digital learning tools, better designed online and blended learning platforms, and data-driven interventions that enable schools to identify and address learning gaps early. These initiatives aim to make learning more responsive to individual needs, while ensuring that the use of technology remains ethical, inclusive and age-appropriate.
Meanwhile, teachers will benefit from a common ASEAN policy framework that prioritizes practical classroom support. DepEd officials said the AI-enabled system will streamline administrative tasks, enhance lesson planning through smarter digital resources, and provide timely insights on student progress, allowing teachers to spend more time on instruction and direct learner engagement.
The ASEAN Foundation also expressed its intention to align AI Ready ASEAN’s activities in conjunction with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chair in 2026, particularly to advance the digitalization of education and ensure the benefits of AI reach learners and teachers in diverse communities.
DepEd said it will continue to work with regional partners to ensure that the implementation of AI in basic education enhances rather than replaces the role of teachers, while providing learners with the digital skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
