DEPED TO BRIDGE SYSTEM GAPS WITH AI

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the Department of Education's (DepEd) efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's education system, seeking to address issues faced by faculty and students daily.

"These [initiatives] are not one-off solutions. We are building systems that will last, improve over time, and directly support our classrooms," Angara said at the 2026 National Innovation Day on Wednesday.

Angara underscored that DepEd's AI initiatives aim to simplify school operations, reduce administrative workloads, speed up government services, and ensure support reaches schools effectively.

At the forefront of this digital overhaul is the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), which seeks to address long-standing gaps in the system by analyzing the performance data of regions.

Key AI projects being implemented by Deped include Project DUNONG, which seeks to cut down administrative work by automating assessment and reporting processes.

Another is Project TALINO, which monitors infrastructural needs such as classroom shortages and facilitates faster deployment of resources.

Project SIGLA monitors students' health for signs of malnutrition, and Project SABAY detects signs of students' reading and speech difficulties—both allowing early intervention and support.

"AI does not always have to be complex—it is in simple, meaningful integrations where it truly changes lives," Angara said.

In this year's National Innovation Day themed "AGOS ASEAN: AI for Growth, Opportunity, and Sustainability in ASEAN," the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) also discussed that the Philippines' first AI governance framework has been introduced to stakeholders for consultations.

The framework is expected to be finalized in two months.