CitizenWatch Philippines urges the government to pair broadband investments with classroom reforms, warning the World Bank's UMIC upgrade needs a digitally skilled workforce to sustain growth.
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MANILA – The Philippines' reclassification to upper-middle-income status will only translate into sustained growth if the workforce gains digital skills, a consumer advocacy group said Wednesday, urging the government to match its infrastructure push with education reforms.
CitizenWatch Philippines said the World Bank's July 1 upgrade – triggered by gross national income per capita hitting $4,850 in 2025, above the $4,636 threshold – creates a window to ensure broadband investments are paired with classroom improvements.
The World Bank attributed the milestone to broad-based growth, with gross domestic product expanding an average 5.8% annually over five years.
Co-convenor Kit Belmonte called the reclassification a major economic milestone but said education reform must keep pace with the digital economy's transformation.
"Government and industry have moved with real intent on infrastructure – fiber, 5G, data centers and AI-ready networks. That progress deserves recognition," Belmonte said. "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."
He cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recognition of Globe Telecom's Starlink direct-to-cell rollout and continuing network expansion. Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda has said such initiatives are bringing the country closer to near-universal internet access, Belmonte noted.
Existing policy frameworks already support greater technology integration in education, he said, 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.
Belmonte called for wider adoption of artificial intelligence in classrooms, saying AI-powered personalized learning, adaptive assessments and intelligent tutoring systems are 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," he said.
Achieving those goals requires stronger collaboration among government agencies, schools, local government units and the private technology sector, Belmonte said. 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.
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