By Henry Aguda, Secretary, Department of Information Communications and Technology
For the Philippines, chairing ASEAN is not just a diplomatic honor. It is a chance to shape the future direction of an entire region. And when artificial intelligence (AI) becomes part of that conversation, the responsibility becomes even more serious.
I remember clearly when this crystallized for me.
Not long after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned from APEC in South Korea — where AI featured prominently in discussions among heads of state — I received a call inviting me to the President’s residence. I was joined by Renato Solidum Jr., Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, and Elaine Masukat, Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff.
It was not a ceremonial meeting. It was a working conversation — but one the three of us still remember with fondness.
The President spoke candidly about what he had heard at APEC: the speed at which AI was advancing, the unevenness of readiness across countries, and the growing realization that AI would shape economies, societies, and governance far sooner than most had expected. Then he posed a simple but consequential question: What if we made AI a central focus of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026?
We exchanged looks — pleasantly surprised, but immediately aware of the weight of that direction. This was not about chasing trends or projecting ambition. It was about responsibility. The President saw that ASEAN could not afford to treat AI as a side topic, discussed only by experts behind closed doors. It had to be elevated to the level of leaders, because its impact would be felt by ordinary people across the region.
That moment stayed with us.
ASEAN is home to more than 670 million people — young, mobile-first, deeply connected, but unevenly protected. It is one of the fastest-growing digital regions in the world, yet also one of the most exposed to scams, misinformation, and digital inequality. How ASEAN approaches AI will determine whether technology becomes a bridge for inclusive growth — or a force that deepens divides.
By placing AI at the heart of the ASEAN agenda, the Philippines helps reframe the global conversation. This is not about an arms race in computing power or who deploys first. ASEAN’s strength has always been cooperation. AI, by its nature, crosses borders — so must the response.
The Philippines brings a credible voice to this role. Filipinos live digital life intensely. We know the upside: productivity, opportunity, connection. We also know the downside: fraud, disinformation, abuse. That lived experience grounds our leadership. It allows us to speak not in abstractions, but in realities.
ASEAN leadership on AI can focus on practical outcomes: shared principles for responsible AI, regional cooperation against online scams and deepfakes, talent development so smaller economies are not left behind, and interoperable digital systems that respect sovereignty while enabling scale.
Handled well, AI can be an equalizer for ASEAN — helping MSMEs go regional, improving public services, and narrowing development gaps. Handled poorly, it can automate harm, erode trust, and harden inequality.
That is why the President’s instinct — to elevate AI to the level of ASEAN leadership — was the right one.
Years from now, ASEAN will look back and ask whether it acted early enough, thoughtfully enough, and collectively enough as AI reshaped societies. The Philippine chairmanship is a chance to be on the right side of that question—not by claiming leadership through technology alone, but by leading through values, coordination, and lived understanding.
With the Philippines set to chair ASEAN in 2026, the regional conversation on artificial intelligence is shifting from competition to cooperation.
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