MANILA, Philippines — Consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines on Wednesday urged the government, telecommunications companies and educational institutions to align the country's digital infrastructure expansion with education reforms, saying the country's newly attained upper-middle-income (UMIC) status will only lead to sustained economic growth if the workforce is equipped with digital skills.
The group said the country's reclassification provides an opportunity to ensure that investments in broadband connectivity and digital infrastructure are complemented by improvements in digital education and workforce readiness.
The World Bank reclassified the country on July 1, 2026 following an increase in its gross national income per capita to $4,850 in 2025, exceeding the $4,636 threshold.
The World Bank attributed the milestone to broad-based economic growth, with the country's gross domestic product expanding by an average of 5.8 percent annually over the past five years.
CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor Kit Belmonte described the country's new income classification as a major economic milestone but said reforms in the education sector must keep pace with the rapid transformation of the digital economy.
"Government and industry have moved with real intent on infrastructure — fiber, 5G, data centers and AI-ready networks. That progress deserves recognition. The opportunity now is to bring education reform into that same rhythm, so the investment in connectivity and the investment in learning are advancing together rather than on separate timelines," Belmonte said.
He cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recognition of Globe Telecom's rollout of Starlink direct-to-cell service and continuing network expansion, noting that Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said such initiatives are bringing the country closer to near-universal internet access.
Belmonte said government policies already support greater integration of technology in education, pointing to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which prioritizes digital education and connectivity, and the 2026-2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan, which classifies digital education projects as eligible for investment incentives.
He also called for the wider adoption of artificial intelligence in classrooms, saying AI-powered personalized learning, adaptive assessments and intelligent tutoring systems are now available and can help teachers address varying learning needs.
"What we need is to accelerate implementation so that AI becomes part of daily instruction, not just a subject taught in a lab," Belmonte said.
He added that AI can improve classroom instruction by enabling more personalized learning while maximizing existing digital resources.
Belmonte said achieving these goals would require stronger collaboration among government agencies, schools, local government units and the private technology sector. He identified teacher training, provision of digital devices for public schools and regular curriculum updates by the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education as key priorities.
He also cited delays in delivering last-mile internet connectivity to schools and remote communities due to permitting requirements and coordination issues between national agencies and local government units.
"It is a coordination and political will challenge more than anything else," Belmonte said.
