President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday declared a “new era” in Philippine education as the Department of Education (DepEd) formally launched AGAP.AI, a nationwide program introducing artificial intelligence (AI) training and tools in basic education.
Speaking at Quezon City Science High School, Marcos said the initiative will help students understand AI, enable teachers to integrate it into lessons, and guide parents in helping children use the technology “safely and wisely” at home.
AGAP.AI, or Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence, also draws from the Filipino word agapay, meaning support.
“That is exactly what we are doing: Bridging the gap between technology and education,” Marcos said.
Under the program, DepEd will craft the country’s first national guidelines on the ethical and responsible use of AI in basic education, following consultations with key stakeholders.
With support from the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org, AI skills training will be rolled out nationwide, targeting up to 1.5 million Filipinos and covering AI literacy, misinformation detection, data privacy, and responsible use.
Marcos said teachers are a key focus of the initiative, with AI-focused training modules aimed at keeping educators up to date with fast-evolving technologies.
DepEd will also pilot AI-powered tools to enhance classroom instruction and school operations while ensuring fairness and data privacy.
The President added that partnerships with institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Day of AI will help embed AI concepts into the basic education curriculum.
“These initiatives are about making sure AI works for everyone-not just a few- and that Filipino learners are ready for the future,” Marcos said.