CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— The Philippines is adopting artificial intelligence faster than it is building the rules to keep it safe, ethical and inclusive, according to the latest Global Index on Responsible AI.
The country ranked 68th out of 135 countries, placing fifth-lowest among East and Southeast Asian countries, with a score of 32.98 out of 100.
For Filipinos increasingly using AI at work, in schools and in everyday digital services, the ranking points to a growing gap between technology adoption and government safeguards.
The index, released by the Global Center on AI Governance, measures how countries manage AI-related concerns such as digital trust, ethics, workforce skills, public services and inclusion.
The Philippines matched the 32.98-point average for Asia and Oceania, but remained below the region's 34.98 median.
Philippines trails regional neighbors
The country was outperformed by most of its regional neighbors.
Japan ranked highest in East and Southeast Asia at 24th globally, scoring 55.66. South Korea followed at 37th with 47.69, Singapore at 40th with 45.21, China at 42nd with 43.58, and Hong Kong at 43rd with 42.74.
Vietnam ranked 47th with 41.56, followed by Indonesia at 53rd with 38.83, Malaysia at 54th with 38.54, and Thailand at 60th with 36.99.
The Philippines ranked ahead of only four Asian countries in the index: Cambodia, Mongolia, Laos and Myanmar.
Infrastructure ahead, policies lag
The country's profile shows a significant imbalance.
The Philippines scored 54.41 in Enabling Conditions, suggesting relatively solid basic digital infrastructure. But its score for Official AI Policy was only 25.46, while Civil Society Organization Engagement scored just 13.76.
The country also scored:
- 37.39 in Trust and Safety
- 33.74 in Ethics and Sustainability
- 33.65 in Public Service Integration
- 30.69 in Labor and Skills
- 29.41 in Inclusion and Diversity
For workers, students and businesses, the weaker scores in labor, skills and inclusion could matter as AI increasingly changes how people work, study and access services.
Congress weighs AI safeguards
The government is already working on possible measures to close the regulatory gap.
The Philippines currently relies on the National AI Strategy and existing data privacy regulations, while Congress considers broader AI legislation.
Senate Bill No. 25, or the Artificial Intelligence Regulation Act, proposes risk classifications, mandatory algorithmic audits and a National AI Commission. It also proposes penalties of up to ₱10 million for intentional AI misuse.
Several House measures are also being considered, including House Bills 7396, 7913 and 3688, which seek to create AI-focused institutions and strengthen digital rights.
Other proposals target the impact of AI on workers and education. House Bill 9448 seeks protections against job displacement caused by automation, while the Department of Education has issued DepEd Order No. 003, s. 2026, governing AI use in basic education.
Europe leads global rankings
European countries dominated the top of the global index.
Norway ranked first with 75.26 points, followed by Italy at 72.71, Ireland at 71.39, France at 70.32 and the Netherlands at 69.51.
At the bottom were Congo at 131st, Burundi at 132nd, Chad at 133rd, Afghanistan at 134th and South Sudan at 135th.
For the Philippines, the ranking underscores a pressing challenge: building not just the technology to use AI, but the rules, skills and public safeguards needed to ensure Filipinos can use it safely and fairly. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Assistant)
