Artificial intelligence is spreading rapidly across Philippine workplaces, but the country faces a widening gap between AI adoption and the skills needed to develop and harness the technology.
The warning emerged from the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ 2026 Future of Work Forum on Aug. 6 at Dusit Thani Manila, where business, government, labor, and development sector leaders pressed for faster skills development, stronger policies, and greater investment in Filipino talent.
The urgency is underscored by the scale of AI adoption. Sherwin Pelayo of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines said 95 percent of Philippine organizations already use AI, but only 12 percent are developing homegrown AI capabilities.
For the Philippines, that distinction could determine whether AI becomes mainly a productivity tool or a new source of higher-value jobs, services, and intellectual property.
TESDA Deputy Director General Galo B. Glino III said the agency aims to equip one million Filipino workers with AI skills through micro-credentials, enterprise-based training, and online learning. TESDA has allocated P641 million for AI and data skills training for 35,000 learners, while about 90,000 enrollments in AI-related online courses had been recorded as of July.
The International Labour Organization estimates that 12.7 million Philippine jobs have potential exposure to AI, particularly in services, clerical and administrative work, finance, and IT-BPM.
That exposure, however, does not necessarily translate into job losses. Instead, many roles are likely to be reshaped as AI takes over routine tasks and workers move toward functions requiring judgment, creativity, technical expertise, and human interaction.
ECCP Treasurer and Human Capital Committee Co-Chair Albert Perez said government, schools, businesses, and international partners must work more closely to expand continuous learning and develop policies that keep pace with technological change.
The forum also highlighted the need for industry-led training, stronger support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, responsible AI regulation, and human oversight.
The economic stakes are significant. The Philippines has built a major services and IT-BPM industry around its workforce. Its next challenge is ensuring that AI does not simply make Filipino workers users of technology, but turns them into creators of it.
