AI and the Philippine Digital Divide: A Wake-Up Call
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises unprecedented efficiency and innovation, but experts warn it could widen the Philippines’ digital divide if the government does not act swiftly. At the Philippine Institute for Development Studies’ (PIDS) 11th Annual Public Policy Conference, scholars and policymakers called for inclusive reforms to strengthen institutions, expand broadband access, and modernize data systems as the country navigates rapid technological change.
Governance as the Key to Inclusive AI Benefits
PIDS President Philip Arnold Tuaño framed AI as a double-edged tool: it can connect people, accelerate knowledge, and catalyze adaptation, yet its gains risk remaining concentrated without robust infrastructure and governance. “AI is now an enabler of connections, a driver of knowledge creation, and a catalyst for adaptation in nearly every field,” he said. “But without better infrastructure, skills, and governance, its benefits will remain concentrated in the hands of a few.”
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan echoed the urgency, noting that the advantage of AI will likely accrue to large corporations and urban centers unless decisive action is taken. He cited the Konektadong Pinoy Law, or Open Access in Data Transmission Act, as a move toward more competition and lower telecommunications costs, yet emphasized that broader reforms are needed to reach rural communities and small enterprises.
Healthy Aging, Digital Access, and Social Protection
Experts linked the digital divide to weak support structures for older Filipinos. Dr. Grace Cruz of the UP Population Institute highlighted a demographic reality: the country is aging faster than its economic gains, with many seniors relying on family for support and few earning through work. Her longitudinal study showed that 69% of older adults have hypertension, with many untreated. She warned that unless data-driven policies and health investments are scaled, the quality of life for older Filipinos could steadily decline.
Dr. Shelley Ann de la Vega of UP Manila’s Institute on Aging stressed that healthcare systems remain under-equipped to serve an aging population. She noted that just over half of hospitals offer comprehensive geriatric assessments, and the nation has only 155 board-certified geriatricians, most concentrated in Metro Manila. The discussion pointed to gerontechnology—telehealth, remote monitoring, and digital assistive devices—as promising tools, but warned that technology alone cannot solve deep-rooted inequities. A national long-term care insurance program, retirement reforms, and digital literacy for seniors were urged as essential complements to AI-driven health innovations.
Data Governance, Privacy, and Ethical AI
Health data and AI adoption hinge on robust data governance. Angely Garcia of the National Institutes of Health stressed that informing policy and ensuring accountability requires strong information systems and ethical oversight. While AI can assist in disease detection and clinical decision-making, it introduces privacy, bias, and transparency risks that policymakers must address.
Other experts urged governments to treat AI as a governance challenge, not solely a technical one. Christopher Lamont of Tokyo International University argued that the true test of AI lies in protecting citizens, while Naoto Kanehira of the World Bank highlighted the practical barriers posed by fragmented datasets that hinder AI’s effectiveness in policy and service delivery.
Connecting Communities: Broadband, Literacy, and Local Innovation
Information-technology policy analyst Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos warned that without urgent broadband investment and digital literacy programs, AI will empower the connected while leaving others behind. Arifah Sharifuddin cautioned that AI models designed abroad must be adapted to Philippine realities to avoid reproducing existing biases. Science and Technology Undersecretary Leah Buendia called for ethical and rights-based AI policies, backed by a whole-of-society governance approach and institutions prepared for rapid change. She reminded audiences that true governance is measured by how policies advance security and prosperity for all Filipinos, not merely by technological sophistication.
Closing Thoughts: Compassion, Wisdom, and the Human Element
Retired UP professor Dr. Grace Shangkuan Koo reminded attendees that AI can extend life and accelerate discovery, but it cannot teach empathy or emotional intelligence. Technology may aid our work, she said, yet values like compassion and reflection remain essential human qualities that must guide AI deployment.
Implications for Policy and Practice
As the Philippines charts an AI-augmented future, the conference underscored a central message: without inclusive reforms, the digital divide will widen, and the benefits of AI will accrue to a minority. Policy responses must blend infrastructure expansion, data governance, health reform, digital literacy, and ethical AI practices into a cohesive, future-ready framework that protects vulnerable populations while fostering innovation.
In timing with the broader Development Policy Research Month, the APPC emphasized that good governance in the AI era is not defined by the speed of technological adoption but by the resilience, equity, and security of the communities it serves.
