The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)-Philippine APEC Study Network (PASCN), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP), held its annual symposium “AI for a Sustainable Tomorrow: Policy Innovations for APEC and the Philippines” at the Pilar Herrera Hall, Palma Hall, UP Diliman on June 11, 2025.
The event, also livestreamed by the organizers, brought together expert speakers to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive innovation, green development, smart governance, economic resilience, and digital transformation in the Philippines and other APEC economies.
Representatives from PASCN members—including UP, Ateneo de Manila University, Asian Institute of Management, Central Luzon State University, De La Salle University, Foreign Service Institute, Mindanao State University System, Silliman University, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of San Carlos, and Xavier University—attended the daylong activities, which included the PASCN symposium, general assembly, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by PASCN and UP officials.
PIDS President Aniceto C. Orbeta, Jr. and UP System President Angelo A. Jimenez signed the MOU right after the symposium and general assembly. They were joined by PASCN Director Francis Mark Quimba, UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Research) Percival F. Almoro, incoming PIDS President Philip Arnold Tuaño, and PASCN members.
According to the organizers, the MOU signing aims to reinforce the partnership between UP and PIDS in promoting, coordinating, and harmonizing APEC-related research and information dissemination programs across PASCN member institutions nationwide.
AI for a sustainable tomorrow
In his keynote address during the symposium, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez focused on Filipinos using AI as a transformative tool for inclusive development, collaboration, and for uplifting humanity. “Collaboration across sectors—government, academia, business, and civil society—is critical,” he said. “We need policies that are adaptive, forward-looking, and grounded in our development realities.”
He added, “The future of AI in the Philippines and across the Asia-Pacific will not be shaped by technology alone but by the values and vision we bring to its development and use.”
UP Diliman professor Dr. Eugene Rex L. Jalao, from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, discussed AI principles and the need for strong government support through legal frameworks, ethical guidelines, and enforcement. “Academia can advance responsible AI development, self-regulation, and collaboration,” he said.
Dr. Sebastian C. Ibañez, deputy chief AI and data officer at the Center for AI Research, talked about the proposed Philippine AI Program Framework and how countries are investing in AI and using advanced technologies to solve problems and boost their economies. He noted that the Philippines can use AI, especially in education.
E-CAIR’s Sebastian Felipe R. Bundoc and Jose Marie A. Minoza presented two AI-driven initiatives: Project LIGTAS (Learning Institution Geohazard Tracking and Assessment for Safety) and Project PAARAL, which support adaptive learning, intelligent tutoring, and scalable education solutions for both public and private school students.
PIDS emeritus research fellow Dr. Rafaelita M. Aldaba, senior advisor at the Department of Education’s E-CAIR and the Philippine Qualifications Framework Council Secretariat, said AI could help address development challenges across diverse sectors, including agriculture, where it can aid farmers in improving productivity.
Dr. Percival F. Almoro, UP assistant vice president for academic affairs (research), stressed the value of multi- and inter-disciplinary collaboration and leveraging academic research. He shared insights through his discussion on optical research projects in various fields such as biology, dentistry, and agriculture. He also noted that personal networks and connections among researchers are more likely to thrive with the aid of AI.
Dr. Erika Fille T. Legara, managing director and chief AI and data officer at the Center for AI Research, discussed governance and ethics in responsible AI. She underscored the need for clear principles, ethical frameworks, and good governance. “There have to be clear rules, committees or boards, human oversight in decision-making, monitoring mechanisms, and communication channels for transparency,” she said.
Marcos Angelo A.S. Punsalang, director-general of the APEC Philippines National Secretariat at the Department of Foreign Affairs, shared updates on APEC’s commitments to sustainable, ethical, and inclusive AI cooperation.
In his closing remarks, incoming PIDS President Tuaño thanked the panelists, hosts, and participants. He said AI provides the promise of opportunities and development for the country and that the Philippines is in a position to take a leadership role in the use of AI, adding that the country can also become a center of excellence in AI research.
