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Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star
May 1, 2026 | 12:00am
Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
Department of Education
MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara pushed for sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) to bridge education system gap and directly address the everyday challenges faced by teachers and learners.
“AI does not always have to be complex – it is in simple, meaningful integrations where it truly changes lives,” Angara said in his speech during the 2026 National Innovation Day.
Angara added that the Department of Education (DepEd)’s AI initiatives are meant to cut down administrative workloads, speed up government service delivery and ensure support reaches schools more efficiently, especially those in underserved communities.
He cited the collaboration of the DepEd with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, Department of Science and Technology and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority under a whole-of-government approach to AI and digital transformation.
He said at the forefront of DepEd’s effort is the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), which develops tools that address long-standing gaps in the education system.
For her part, ECAIR managing director Erika Fille Legara cited the need to connect data, systems, and decision-makers to reduce inefficiencies and respond to the scale of challenges faced by around 25 million learners nationwide.
Legara said key AI projects currently being implemented include Project DUNONG, which automates reporting and assessment processes for school heads, significantly reducing paperwork to allow them to focus on instructional leadership.
She added that Project TALINO maps out infrastructure and resource gaps such as classroom shortages and electrification needs to help direct investments where they are most needed.
On the other hand, Project SIGLA enables early detection of malnutrition, while Project SABAY screens learners for reading and speech difficulties, facilitating earlier intervention in classrooms.
The DepEd is currently rolling out Project SALIKSEEK, a generative AI-powered tool that allows faster access to verified data, strengthening evidence-based planning and decision-making across the department.
Meanwhile, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2) pushed for reforms of local universities and colleges (LUCs) to improve the quality of higher education.
EDCOM2 executive director Karol Mark Yee noted that baccalaureate enrollment in LUCs surged by 44 percent, from around 343,000 in 2021 to approximately 493,000 in 2023, making them the fastest-growing segment in the higher education sector.
Yee added that despite this growth, regulatory oversight remains uneven as of 152 LUCs listed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), only 107 have been granted institutional recognition as of academic year 2024–2025.
Yee also flagged systemic constraints that continue to affect LUC performance, particularly in faculty recruitment and program quality.
Yee added that compensation in LUCs is tied to the income classification of their respective local government units (LGUs), resulting in significant disparities.
He noted that poorer LGUs are less able to attract qualified faculty.
