MANILA, Philippines — Despite fears and concerns about the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) applications and its impact on people’s lives, a group believes that the same technology can be used to reform the country’s education system and resolve problems besetting it.
In a statement on Thursday, consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor and former Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte said that AI gives students and instructors a chance at better education, which would make them ready for a digital and competitive global economy.
This, Belmonte said, can be attained by checking what educational models have been effective — like Center for Excellence (Centex) schools who are already making use of technology in teaching children, Globe’s digital education, online safety, and AI literacy initiatives, along with the Department of Education (DepEd) partnership with Khan Academy.
“We must scale proven educational models through collaboration among the private sector, local governments, DepEd, and the broader public school system,” Belmonte said.
“The future of Philippine education will be determined by how effectively we raise the quality of learning across the entire public education system. That is where AI can make the biggest difference,” he added.
READ: DepEd highlights Khan Academy PH’s growing role in learning recovery
According to Belmonte, equipping the country’s future workforce with skills suited for a modern world will ensure a stronger economy.
“If we want a stronger economy and democracy, we need citizens equipped with future-ready skills who can think independently, resist misinformation, and participate responsibly in public life,” he added.
The former lawmaker, however, reminded the education sector that while AI can be a helpful tool, it still cannot replace “the fundamental purpose of education.”
“Artificial intelligence can transform how we teach and learn, but it cannot replace the fundamental purpose of education. Education should not only prepare young Filipinos to prosper. It should prepare them for citizenship, leadership, and meaningful participation in society,” he said.
“Education gives people dignity. It creates opportunities where none existed before. It allows individuals to rise above limitations imposed by circumstance and gives them the confidence to compete on equal footing with others,” he added.
The use of AI in education has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders, as there are concerns that allowing this technology to be used for scholastic purposes may lead to abuse and raise ethical questions — especially as some students have already used chatbots to craft their theses or research papers.
A March 2024 news article showed that there were indications that over 100 research papers that were peer-reviewed contained telltale signs that ChatGPT, one of the world’s most-used chatbots, was responsible for making them.
Many papers reportedly contained gibberish text.
READ: AI nonsense found in over 100 research papers
However, there were also advocates for the responsible use of AI.
After DepEd allowed the use of AI in classrooms last February 2026, several sectors said that while they support this measure, the next step is to govern AI, controlling its safe integration into learning.
In 2025, DepEd also launched AI initiatives that would support learners with disabilities, by establishing an advanced Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) and the development of an AI-powered tool for early disability detection.
Belmonte said that AI gives the country a chance to level the playing field for students, especially those in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.
“Technology can help democratize access to quality education. It can help ensure that a child in a remote municipality has greater access to learning opportunities that were once available only to students in better-resourced schools,” he said.
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“We need an education system that can train our youth to use AI responsibly, think critically, evaluate information carefully, and make decisions that serve the common good,” he added. “The future of the Philippines will be determined by whether we can harness AI to develop informed citizens, ethical leaders, and a generation capable of building a stronger and more prosperous nation.” /gsg
