Pasig City, Philippines – Reinforcing its role as the country’s premier institution for public sector capability development, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) today officially launched the National Capability-Building Program on Artificial Intelligence (AI), a landmark of whole-of-government flagship initiative designed to prepare public institutions and civil servants for an increasingly AI-driven future.
Held at the Idea Generation Hub of the DAP in Pasig City, and livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube, the launch gathered key representatives from the government, academe, industry, and development partners, signaling a strong and shared commitment to advancing innovation and strengthening the country’s public sector capabilities in artificial intelligence. The initiative builds on the national push to harness AI as a driver of development and public service transformation in the Philippines.
In his opening remarks, Acting President and CEO Leocadio S. Sebastian, PhD, CESO I, highlights the critical role of workforce readiness in navigating future challenges.
Meanwhile, DAP Acting Executive Vice President Magdalena L. Mendoza underscored that the program goes beyond technology itself and centers on people and institutions.
She emphasized that while AI presents vast opportunities to improve efficiency and expand the scope of public service delivery, its use must always be anchored on ethics, accountability, and respect for human creativity and judgment.
Meanwhile, DAP–Center for Strategic Futures (CSF) Director Armand Tristan R. Suratos presented the program overview, highlighting its strategic objective of building AI talent, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing workforce competencies across all levels of government.
The program features a structured learning pathway, beginning with foundational knowledge and progressing toward real-world application. This includes certification tracks, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem-building efforts aligned with the country’s broader national AI agenda and DAP’s ongoing capability-building initiatives.
Participants and online viewers were also introduced to the program’s training offerings, including the foundational course AI 101, alongside the rollout timeline of upcoming activities. DAP likewise provided a walkthrough of the official program website and the training endorsement process to guide government agencies in participating in the initiative.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape governance and service delivery worldwide, DAP is taking the lead in ensuring that Philippine public institutions are prepared to adopt these technologies responsibly, strategically, and for the benefit of citizens.
To support the program’s initial rollout, an online orientation for human resource representatives of government agencies will be held on 24 April 2026 (Friday), from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. The session will provide a comprehensive overview of the program’s objectives, structure, training schedule, learning platform, and endorsement process.
This pivotal initiative underscored DAP’s commitment to a digitally enabled, intelligent, and people-centered government. As AI continues to transform governance, DAP is ensuring that the public sector is equipped to adopt these technologies responsibly.
For more information and enrollment details, you may visit the website at https://aicapb.dap.edu.ph.
For inquiries, interested agencies can email hello.aicapb@dap.edu.ph.
In case you missed the livestream, you may watch the event below:
National Capability-Building Program on Artificial Intelligence for the Public Sector Program Launch