EFFORTS to upskill the workforce must be accelerated to ensure no Filipino is left behind as the Philippines transitions into a digital-first economy powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the government’s private-sector advisers said. She said the meeting, held jointly with the PSAC Digital Infrastructure Sector Group, underscored the importance of expanding AI adoption and digital upskilling nationwide. The PSAC pushed for the release of P650 million from the Higher Education Development Fund to the Commission on Higher Education to support AI upskilling programs in colleges and universities this year. “The funding will support priority AI upskilling programs in 2026 across colleges and universities, helping students gain the skills needed for emerging industries,” the council said. In June, the Asian Development Bank proposed a $1.3-million technical assistance fund to support developing Southeast Asian economies, targeting scalable digital infrastructure, cloud readiness, digital public systems, and data governance.