By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is pushing for wider and more inclusive access to artificial intelligence (AI) as the government launched on Monday a new AI-powered feature of the eGovPH Super App.
In a message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos during the ceremonial launch of eGov AI at The Manila Hotel, President Marcos Jr. said emerging technologies must be made accessible to more Filipinos and harnessed to improve public services.
“We live in a time when technology is transforming how we learn, work, and do business. Artificial intelligence, or AI in particular, offers new ways of solving problems and making everyday tasks more efficient,” the message said.
“Hence, the government must be ready to make these technologies work for the Filipino people,” he added.
The President cited a 2024 study showing that only 14.9% of firms in the country use AI tools, with adoption concentrated among larger, technology-related companies in urban centers.
Structural barriers and connectivity also affect businesses’ ability to adopt emerging technologies, he said.
“These realities tell us where our work must continue. We must make innovation more accessible and equip our people with the skills to use it,” President Marcos Jr. said.
He stressed that AI development must also be anchored on accountability, security, and public service.
“That is why this administration is championing the ethical and responsible use of AI as a means to improve our services to Filipinos and create opportunities for them,” he said.
Developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), eGov AI features “Kuya A,” a built-in AI assistant that provides real-time guidance to help users access government services online.
Free to verified eGovPH users, the feature includes document extraction, image identification, translation, form understanding and speech generation, as well as access to tourism information and laws, policies and guidelines.
The platform also includes electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) for more efficient identity verification and advanced liveness checks to strengthen safeguards against fraud and unauthorized access.
Its real-time translation feature is likewise designed to help reduce language barriers in digital transactions.
President Marcos Jr. said the platform demonstrates how technology can make government services more accessible while maintaining safeguards for users, “Every technology we introduce must ultimately serve public interests.”
He urged Filipinos to use AI “wisely, responsibly, and ethically,” stressing that technology should complement, not replace, human judgment.
“Always remember that technology should sharpen our judgment, not replace it. Let us use AI as a tool to make well-informed decisions without surrendering our own capacity to question, discern, and decide,” he said.
The launch also featured the awarding ceremony for the eGovPH Hackathon 2026, which recognized the Top 30 teams for developing digital solutions supporting the government’s digital transformation.
The Chief Executive thanked government partners, stakeholders, and individuals involved in developing the technology, saying innovation should create opportunities for Filipinos and ensure that “no Filipino is left behind” in the digital transition.
