Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2023, top government executives confirmed that the Philippines ranks 1st in digital 
illiteracy and 2nd in online sexual exploitation of children in the world.1 A 2021 data from the 
Philippine Institute for Development Studies further shows that around 40% of the population only 
have at least one of the six information and communications technology skills monitored for the 
Sustainable Development Goals. Compared to our ASEAN counterparts, the country lags in 
almost all ICT skills.2 To address this alarming situation,  the government must strengthen its 
regulatory capacity and institutionalize proactive measures to help our people, especially the 
youth, keep up with the knowledge and skills needed today in our highly digitalized context.  
As defined by ASEAN, digital literacy is the person’s ability to use digital platforms for 
finding, consuming, evaluating, creating, and communicating digital content.3 With an average of 
8 hours and 52 minutes of internet usage daily, ranking third highest in the world,4 the government 
must ensure that the time spent online by our kababayans are maximized for learning, business, 
and capacity-building, contributing to nation-building. Hence, a need to ensure increased digital 
literacy and improved digital skills in our population.  
As our education system plays a vital role in instilling knowledge and discipline, especially 
in young people, it needs to be updated periodically to adapt to the changing landscape of our 
society. In line with this objective, this bill seeks to:  
●
Integrate into the education curriculum of students in Grades 6 to 12 basic concepts
of coding, digital literacy, responsible AI use, and algorithmic thinking, among others.
●
Revise the curriculum in tertiary education to include at least one AI-related subject
across non-tech courses.
●
Mandate the Commission on Higher Education to establish a ladderized “Digital
Career Track” in State Universities and Colleges.
●
Mandate the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to establish
Regional Future Skills Centers that will (1) offer free training programs in digital coding,
1 Abarca, C. (2023, September 19). PH is no. 1 in digital illiteracy, no. 2 in online child abuse – execs. Inquirer.net. 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1833725/ph-is-no-1-in-digital-illiteracy-no-2-in-online-child-abuse-execs 
2 Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (2021, December 17). Fact Friday on digital literacy skills of Filipinos. 
https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/fact-friday-on-digital-literacy-skills-of-filipinos 
3 UNICEF East Asia and Pacific. (2020). Digital literacy in education systems across ASEAN. 
https://www.unicef.org/eap/media/7766/file/Digital%20Literacy%20in%20Education%20Systems%20Across%20ASEAN%20Cover.p
df 
4 Meltwater. (2025). Social Media Statistics in the Philippines. https://www.meltwater.com/en/blog/social-media-statistics-philippines 
July 9, 2025
5:45 pm
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digital marketing, data science, cloud computing, and AI tools, and (2) government-
subsidized certification programs on global tech platforms. 
●
Create a Youth Digital Work and AI Talent Acceleration Fund, which will be used to
provide scholarships and subsidies to young people from low-income families and
support AI events.
●
Incentivize local government units to conduct youth digital work programs.
●
Create a National Council on AI and Digital Talent that will be headed by the Secretary
of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
To further equip our youth to be future-ready, the swift passage of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING DIGITAL LITERACY, CODING, AND AI READINESS IN 
BASIC AND HIGHER EDUCATION, ESTABLISHING REGIONAL FUTURE SKILLS 
CENTERS, AND PROMOTING LIFELONG DIGITAL UPSKILLING FOR ALL FILIPINOS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Digital Skills and AI 
Readiness Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to prepare every Filipino for the 
rapidly evolving digital and AI-driven global economy. The State recognizes the need to equip the 
youth and workforce with future-proof skills such as digital literacy, coding, data analytics, and 
artificial intelligence to ensure inclusive development, employment generation, and technological 
competitiveness. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. – The program shall have the following objectives: 
(a) Integrate digital skills and AI education across all levels of formal education;
(b) Establish Regional Future Skills Centers to provide free training and certifications;
(c) Facilitate public-private partnerships in upskilling programs;
(d) Promote digital inclusion for marginalized sectors; and
(e) Foster ethical awareness and critical thinking in the use of AI technologies.
SECTION 4. Digital Curriculum Reform in Basic Education. – Immediately upon the effectivity 
of this Act, the Department of Education (DepEd), shall revise the existing educational curricula 
to achieve the following: 
(a) Integrate basic coding, digital literacy, and algorithmic thinking in the Grades 6 to 12
curriculum;
(b) Provide modules on responsible AI use, digital safety, and ethics;
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(c) Ensure teachers receive upskilling and certification in digital teaching methods; and 
 
(d) Collaborate with local IT companies for curriculum development and real-world relevance. 
 
SECTION 5. Digital Curriculum Reform in Higher Education – The Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) shall revise the existing educational curricula in tertiary education by requiring 
all SUCs to offer at least one AI-related subject across non-tech courses including, but not limited 
to Business, Education, and Agriculture as may be determined by the CHED.  
 
Furthermore, CHED shall establish a ladderized “Digital Career Track” across fields within 
SUCs, from certificate to degree programs to ensure the augmentation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 6. Establishment of Regional Future Skills Centers. – The Technical Education and 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in collaboration with the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall 
establish at least one (1) Future Skills Center in every region to offer free training programs in 
digital coding, digital marketing, data science, cloud computing, and AI tools, as well as 
government-subsidized certification programs on global tech platforms including, but not limited 
to Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). 
 
The Future Skills Center shall offer on-site and online learning options accessible to all 
interested students, Overseas Filipino Workers, Senior Citizens, and Out-of-School Youth to 
further improve their skills or simply acquire new skills or knowledge for whatever purpose it may 
deem serve them. 
 
SECTION 7. Creation of the Youth Digital Work and AI Talent Acceleration Fund. – An 
acceleration fund on Youth Digital Work and AI Talent shall be created to provide training 
scholarships and laptop subsidies for low-income youth and support AI bootcamps, hackathons, 
and incubators across the country. 
 
SECTION 8. Role and Incentives for LGUs. – Local government units (LGUs) that launch youth 
digital work programs within their respective jurisdictions, with the guidance of the implementing 
agencies mentioned herein, shall be given incentives, which shall be determined upon the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Creation of the National Council on AI and Digital Talent. – A National Council 
on AI and Digital Talent shall be created to be headed by the Secretary of DICT or its duly 
designated representative, and composed of a representative of DepEd, CHED, TESDA, 
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),  and industry 
leaders. The council shall administer the following: 
 
(a) Publication of an annual AI and Tech Jobs Forecast Report; 
 
(b) Development of the National AI Literacy Framework; and 
 
(c) Ensuring inclusive access to digital upskilling across rural and urban. 
 
SECTION 10. Appropriations. – Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions 
of this Act is hereby included in the annual appropriations of DICT, DepEd, CHED, and TESDA 
under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 


 
SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DICT, in coordination with relevant 
agencies, shall issue the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days 
after the effectivity of this Act.  
 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.