PLDT Spotlights AI Upskilling as Pathway to New Opportunities for Filipinos

Artificial intelligence (AI) is often framed as a looming disruptor of jobs. At the Philippine Telco Summit 2026, however, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. offered a different view: AI, he said, is less a threat than a call to adapt—and a powerful tool for expanding opportunities for Filipinos who are willing to learn new skills.

Speaking on a panel at the summit organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Jimenez underscored the need for workers, businesses, and institutions to pivot toward AI as it becomes embedded in everyday life and work.

“AI is going to happen, whether we like it or not,” Jimenez said. “The real question is how we respond. If we embrace it and learn how to use it, AI can help protect or diversify your job, open new opportunities, and make people more productive.”

Jimenez emphasized that while large-scale industrial AI systems can be costly, many practical AI tools are already accessible and affordable to ordinary Filipinos—from transcription apps to content creation and productivity tools. These technologies, he said, lower barriers for individuals and small businesses, allowing them to do more with limited resources.

He pointed to the experience of creators and entrepreneurs who now rely on AI-powered tools to shorten workflows that once took days into tasks that can be completed in minutes. “There are AI applications today that are affordable, easy to use, and immediately useful,” Jimenez said. “The key is helping people understand which tools make sense for them—and giving them the confidence to try.”

That focus on accessibility is reflected in PLDT Group’s broader push to democratize AI through infrastructure investments and community-based programs. The company has invested heavily in AI-ready infrastructure, anchored by its integrated fixed and wireless networks and the VITRO Sta. Rosa (VSR) hyperscale data center in Laguna, the country’s first facility built specifically to support AI workloads. VSR, inaugurated in 2025 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, sits at the heart of the country’s growing technology corridor south of Metro Manila.

VSR also hosts Pilipinas AI, the country’s first sovereign AI solutions stack, designed to help Philippine enterprises and institutions deploy AI without having to build or manage their own infrastructure. By keeping data and workloads hosted locally, Pilipinas AI enables both public and private sector users to access advanced AI capabilities while ensuring data sovereignty and security.

Beyond enterprise applications, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. are extending AI upskilling to communities through initiatives such as AI-in-a-Box, which provides connectivity, tools, training, and support to local government units, schools, MSMEs, media organizations, and community groups. Launched in 2025, the program has reached learners and organizations from Baguio to BARMM, helping demystify AI and show how it can be applied in practical, day-to-day settings.

At the policy level, Jimenez also highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration between government and industry, particularly as the country implements the Konektadong Pinoy Act. He said ongoing dialogue with the DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has helped address early concerns from telcos, including clearer definitions around spectrum utilization and safeguards related to pricing regulation for players with significant market power.

“The real measure of success,” Jimenez added, echoing President Marcos, “is how much these policies improve Filipino lives. Faster or cheaper internet only matters if it actually makes life better.”

That principle also guides PLDT and Smart’s continued investments in connectivity for remote and underserved communities. PLDT tested Radisys point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access technology, which delivers fiber-like speeds over-the-air through a single base node connecting to remote radio nodes in customer premises. The company also piloted Google’s Taara laser communication technology, delivering fiber-like speeds using beams of light instead of undersea or underground cables, to sites like Talim Island in Rizal, Dipaluda in Isabela, and Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City. Smart has also partnered with Lynk Global to enable direct-to-device satellite-powered mobile connectivity, allowing users to send SMS and use apps like WhatsApp even when cell services are unavailable.

Working with government agencies, local government units, and private sector partners, PLDT and Smart have also pushed to streamline permitting processes and accelerate network rollouts, ensuring that digital services reach communities that need them most. These efforts support national programs such as Konektadong CHED and the Bayanihan SIM initiative, which aim to expand access to education and mobile connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

“Our mission is simple: reach more Filipinos by delivering meaningful connections and experiences,” Jimenez said. “By working closely with government and industry partners, we can deploy stronger, more resilient networks—and ensure that new technologies like AI create real opportunities for people across the country.”

As AI continues to reshape economies and workplaces worldwide, PLDT’s message at the Philippine Telco Summit was clear: the future will belong to those who adapt. For Filipinos, Jimenez said, the future begins with learning, collaboration, and the confidence to pivot.