President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. believes that the Philippines is ready to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), inviting technology companies to become partners as the country navigates toward the new "technological revolution."
Marcos made the statement on the sidelines of his attendance at the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting and related activities in San Francisco, California.
"The Philippines is ready to become your partner in navigating the AI future. As we look to the horizon, let’s ‘Make It Happen in the Philippines,’ where, the promise of a future defined by technological inclusivity and shared growth is not just envisioned but actively realized," the President said.
Marcos said the Philippines is currently embracing the AI revolution to augment the existing skills of the Filipinos, increase the productivity of enterprises, and enhance the competitiveness of the economy.
"Currently, the Philippines is embracing this future of AI with the crafting of the National AI Strategy that seeks to augment the existing skillset of Filipino talents with AI. This strategy also aims to position the Philippines as a Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence," he continued.
“We believe AI can uplift the lives of Filipinos, increase the productivity of our enterprises, and enhances the competitiveness of our economy. And I’m certain our discussions here today will help the Philippines steer our roadmaps in a direction that maximizes the skills of Filipinos and helps them achieve their aspirations,” he added.
The roundtable meeting was co-organized by NightDragon Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Dewalt, Bain and Company CEO Emmanuel Maceda, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Dewalt and Maceda were present during the meeting along with Crescent Point Group Vice Chairman Thomas Pompidou, Microsoft Managing Director Michelle Gonzalez, Mandiant (A Google Company) CEO Kevin Mandia and Group of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Head Chris Emanuel.
Plug and Play Ventures CEO Saeed Amidi, Altimeter CEO Brad Gerstner, HP (formerly Hewlett-Packard) CEO Enrique Lores, Visa CEO Ryan McInerney, Mastercard Co-President Ling Hai, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei were also present during the roundtable meeting.
President Marcos said the gathering with the businessmen is a momentous occasion as the Philippine economy celebrates a milestone, marking its highest growth rate since 1976 with a 7.6 percent increase in the country’s gross domestic product in 2022.
The country's economic standing, accompanied by US$9.2 billion in Foreign Direct Investments last year, “narrates a story of economic resilience and dynamism.”
“This remarkable growth, it mirrors the persistent dedication of this Administration, harmonized with our private sector partners and with their initiatives, to cultivate a business ecosystem that is not only conducive but also competitive and innovative,” President Marcos said.
Marcos also emphasized that the Philippine government made it easy for foreign investors by providing fiscal incentives and promoting ease of doing business as he highlighted the Filipino’s brand of quality service and the country’s vibrant economy.
“To our current and future partners, I hope that this meeting will serve as an opportunity to create a shared vision for a future where the Philippine workforce is empowered, skilled, and ready to shape the digital age,” Marcos said.
“We stand on the cusp of the Artificial Intelligence revolution and that promises untold advancements but it also presents some rather unexpected challenges. It hinges on a workforce equipped with the necessary skills and an ecosystem that embraces technological inclusivity,” the President added.
During the meeting, the President stressed the importance of upskilling and training to meet the current and future talent needs and demands of each industry in the Philippines, saying the “task of cultivating a future-ready workforce” is a shared responsibility.
