Anouncement
Anouncement
MANILA, Philippines — Fears of massive job losses in the Philippines due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are “quite exaggerated,” the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) announced on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Speaking at a forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan reaffirmed that the country’s flagship Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry remains resilient, with no significant employment losses reported.
“The fear that we would lose a lot of our IT-BPM [jobs] in this evolving AI appears to be quite exaggerated,” Secretary Balisacan emphasized during the forum.
To support this outlook, Secretary Balisacan referenced findings from the World Development Report 2026, which show that job exposure to generative AI across various income groups remains predominantly low or non-existent.
While government agencies and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) acknowledge that AI will inevitably transform certain job functions, both sectors maintain that the technology will unlock more high-quality, specialized employment opportunities across the country.
To capitalize on emerging tech developments, government and industry leaders are accelerating nationwide upskilling and reskilling programs.
IBPAP has prioritized talent transformation to cultivate “AI-enabled digital Filipino workers”—professionals equipped with both technical AI fluency and essential, uniquely human skill sets, including:
By shifting from traditional transactional processes to higher-value digital services, the Philippine IT-BPM sector aims to sustain its global competitive advantage in an AI-driven market.
In addition to safeguarding existing industries, DEPDev highlighted ongoing strategic efforts to diversify the Philippine economy through high-tech industrialization.
Balisacan pointed to major initiatives like the Pax Silica project, designed to draw international investors, promote industrial growth, and foster value-adding economic activities across the Philippines.
“We have to diversify the economy. And things like Pax Silica, to the extent that we are able to attract investors that promote industrialization and value-adding economic activities, will enhance the quality of our growth moving forward,” Balisacan noted.
