Philippines Plans to Reskill 1.3 Million IT-BPM Workers for AI

The Philippines is planning to reskill around 1.3 million employees in its information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector to prepare them for AI-enabled services. The initiative forms part of a US$34.4 billion AI infrastructure roadmap designed to position the country as a regional centre for AI infrastructure.

The final version of the Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan (PAIIM) 2026–2033 was launched in Quezon City last Tuesday. The plan outlines the government’s strategy for developing AI infrastructure in the country through 2033.

According to the masterplan, the programme could create more than 500,000 AI-related jobs by 2033, along with another 175,000 jobs linked to infrastructure development. AI-led productivity improvements and new digital services are also projected to contribute between 10% and 12% to national GDP.

The IT-BPM sector is identified in the plan as one of the Philippines’ strengths for attracting AI infrastructure investment. Other advantages highlighted include the country’s location, 21 submarine cables and mobile coverage exceeding 95%. At the same time, the sector’s approximately 1.3 million workers are the main focus of the planned reskilling programmes.

Gemma Baysic, Office-in-Charge Director of the National ICT Planning, Policy and Standards Bureau at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), said the Philippines wants to play a broader role in the future AI ecosystem rather than simply consume technology.

The infrastructure programme will be supported by six areas: AI workforce development, connectivity infrastructure, AI computing and data centres, sustainable energy and water sourcing, policy and regulation, and demand creation and adoption. The government also plans to establish a national AI governance and trusted data framework by the end of the programme.

The country currently has one AI-focused data centre with approximately 50 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity. Under the masterplan, capacity is expected to increase 30 times to 1.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2033, with around 400 MW planned by 2030 during the first phase.

AI infrastructure development will cover four corridors. Clark-Bataan is expected to serve as the main anchor, while Batangas-Aurora will act as a strategic gateway. Subic and Calabarzon will provide supporting capacity, with Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro identified as future regional locations.

The Department of Energy is also expected to support the additional infrastructure requirements. Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario said the country expects to power about 152,000 graphics processing units (GPUs), which the department uses to estimate computing capacity and electricity demand.

The government aims to meet the additional energy requirements without reducing electricity supply for households. Natural gas plants are expected to address immediate requirements, while the government is targeting renewable sources such as solar and geothermal to provide 40% of the power needed for AI infrastructure by 2033. Nuclear energy is also being considered as a longer-term option under the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, or PhilAtom Act.

The US$34.4 billion investment requirement is expected to be split between public and private funding, with US$13.5 billion, or 39%, coming from public sources and around US$21 billion, or 61%, from private investors.