PEZA to unveil AI Tech Academy

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority is set to launch the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tech Academy in Cebu later this month to equip ecozone workers with skills needed to utilize new technologies.

PEZA director general Tereso Panga told reporters that the AI Tech Academy is set to open on Nov. 17.

The new facility was initially expected to be launched in October, but the date was postponed due to PEZA’s investment mission to South Korea.

The AI Tech Academy is an initiative being undertaken with information technology (IT) training company StackTrek and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

“Using the AI training framework, I think it’s a pioneering initiative by the Philippine government, by the Philippines in Southeast Asia,” Panga said.

He said StackTrek was looking to collaborate with host economies for the initiative and the Philippines was the first to respond to the call to set up an AI training academy.

He said that StackTrek made an investment for the AI Tech Academy, while PEZA’s role is to mobilize the industry to support the initiative through donations of equipment.

PEZA is also working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide grants to workers that will undergo the AI training.

Panga said Cebu was chosen as the location for the first AI Tech Academy given the available space there.

Since AI is a new technology, he said the training must be conducted in person.

“But later on, the idea is to set up more. And some can be done already online,” he said.

As the plan is to open more AI training facilities, he said the investment promotion agency is open to hosting a training academy within the PEZA building.

Through the facility, the aim is to train IT workers, high-school and college students and job seekers on various AI tools and solutions to prepare the Filipino workforce for new technologies and advanced manufacturing.