PLDT champions responsible AI use

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

January 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Telco giant PLDT Inc. is advocating for accessible and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use amid the increasing adoption of the technology in the Philippines.

PLDT said it would lead the country’s participation in the global AI landscape for 2026 with a strategy that invests in leadership, infrastructure and communities.

With AI adoption accelerating across the country, PLDT said it is crucial to ensure that the benefits of the technology reach as many sectors as possible to enable inclusive digital growth.

“With our AI-ready ecosystem and our investments in our infrastructure and in our people, the PLDT Group is ready to help more Filipino communities, businesses and enterprises embrace and harness the benefits of AI to boost productivity, competitiveness and innovation,” PLDT senior vice president and head of enterprise business group Blums Pineda said.

Pineda was appointed as PLDT Group AI business lead, reinforcing the company’s focus on building AI capabilities that empower businesses and communities.

Pineda said that PLDT Enterprise is developing a range of AI use cases for industries such as banking, finance services and insurance, business process outsourcing, health care, government and utilities, with the aim of optimizing processes, increasing productivity and enhancing customer experience.

PLDT’s significant investments in AI infrastructure include the country’s largest integrated fixed and wireless networks as well as VITRO Sta Rosa, the country’s first hyperscale data center built specifically for AI workloads.

VITRO Sta Rosa, which was inaugurated by President Marcos and PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan last year, also hosts Pilipinas AI, the country’s first sovereign AI solutions stack, which aims to enable Philippine enterprises to tap into AI’s full potential without the burden of building or managing their own infrastructure.

PLDT, through wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc., is likewise gearing up to unlock the potential of AI in enabling efficiencies in government, schools and universities, non-government organizations, micro, medium and small enterprises, media groups and other community-based organizations.

Last year, PLDT and Smart launched a digital empowerment initiative that brings AI closer to communities by equipping them with the tools, connectivity, training and support they need to thrive in an AI-driven world.

The companies have also integrated AI upskilling in their education, livelihood and inclusion programs.

“We are not just introducing communities to AI. We are leading the way in championing its responsible and meaningful use,” Stephanie Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart, said.

“Across schools, local government units, enterprises and media, we are actively pushing for AI adoption that improves how people work, serve and create value in their communities. Our role is to make sure AI is not intimidating or exclusive, but empowering and usable today,” she said.