Philippine launches AI academy in ecozones

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines is seeking to sharpen its competitive edge in advanced manufacturing and digital services with the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) academy inside its economic zones, as policymakers position the country for higher-value investments amid shifting global supply chains.

The initiative, led by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), is being rolled out initially in Cebu, where about 5,000 AI training certificates have already been issued to workers and locators within export-oriented zones.

Tereso O. Panga, PEZA director general, said in an interview that the program will expand nationwide, with at least 3,000 additional trainees targeted this year.

The academy forms part of a broader effort to move the Philippines up the value chain, as traditional low-cost manufacturing—particularly garments—continues to migrate to cheaper labor  markets. “It only means we’re going up the value chain already,” Panga said, pointing to a growing pipeline of high-tech and knowledge-based investments.

The training scheme is delivered in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and private-sector collaborators, and is offered free to workers within economic zones.

According to Panga, the goal is to create a pool of AI-proficient talent that can support both existing locators and prospective investors in data-driven industries.

The push comes as PEZA maintains that investment approvals and exports remain resilient despite global economic headwinds.

The agency expects clearer signals on whether conditions will stabilise by the third quarter, reflecting a mix of “wait-and-see” investors and those accelerating deployment plans in anticipation of a post-crisis rebound.

Cebu, in particular, is emerging as a testing ground for this transition. Recent investments include Japanese manufacturing firms and energy-related technology providers, alongside expansion plans tied to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport economic zone, where an additional 20 hectares are being readied for new locators.

Panga estimates that new projects in the pipeline could generate at least 1,000 jobs in the near term, with further employment gains expected as infrastructure and IT-enabled developments—such as mixed-use commercial hubs—come online.

The AI academy is intended to underpin this growth by aligning workforce capabilities with investor requirements.

By embedding digital skills training within export zones, PEZA is seeking to differentiate the Philippines from regional competitors and attract companies in AI, automation and analytics.

The strategy reflects a broader recalibration of the country’s industrial policy: from labor-cost arbitrage towards skills-driven competitiveness. Whether the bet pays off may become clearer later this year, when investment flows and global demand offer a more definitive read on the Philippines’ standing in an increasingly technology-led investment landscape. — (FREEMAN)