Cebu City taps into AI Academy development, advocating for Industry 5.0 in economic zones
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Establishes AI Tech Academy in Cebu
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has announced the establishment of the AI Tech Academy in Cebu, a collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Startek [1]. The announcement was made during the 9th Suppliers Expo and General Membership Meeting of the Mepz Purchasing Managers Association.
The AI Tech Academy aims to upskill ecozone workers and businesses with essential digital skills related to artificial intelligence. The training will focus on generative AI, automation, and strategic AI applications, preparing workers for future-ready roles and promoting Industry 5.0 [1]. The academy's goal is to increase the competitiveness of Cebu's manufacturing and export industries by equipping over 400 PEZA-registered enterprises and their suppliers with AI capabilities that improve production timelines and cost efficiency.
Peza's resilience and growth mirror the national trend, with the Philippine manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index reaching 50.9 in July, its strongest expansion since April [2]. This growth is a major milestone in the government's bid to transform the country's economic zones into global hubs for advanced manufacturing, smart technologies, and sustainable development [3].
Cebu was chosen as the site of the AI Tech Academy due to its strong industrial base and growing role in global supply chains. The city is home to over 424 Peza-registered enterprises [4]. The event served as a testament to the bridge between suppliers and manufacturers aiming to elevate Filipino talent [5].
In addition to the AI Tech Academy, Peza is implementing the Peza One-Stop Portal System, an AI-powered platform for streamlining investor transactions [6]. The authority is also embracing blockchain and digital trust technologies through partnerships with platforms such as PHX [7]. To expand local supplier participation, Peza is conducting reverse trade fairs, supporting startup accelerators inside ecozones, and building an AI-driven digital marketplace for suppliers to match with larger locators [7].
Winnie Chua, president of the Mepz Purchasing Managers Association, emphasized the country's shift toward a more human-centered, tech-enabled future [5]. The theme of the event emphasized Peza's leadership in bridging innovation and Filipino talent, building a resilient, human-centered, sustainable, and globally competitive industrial ecosystem [5]. The Philippine industry has evolved from steam-powered mills (Industry 1.0) to electric assembly lines (Industry 2.0), then to computer automation and electronics plants (Industry 3.0), and now to smart factories using IoT and real-time data monitoring (Industry 4.0). At present, the industry is prioritizing human-machine synergy, flexible production, resilience, and environmental stewardship (Industry 5.0) [8].
The event was attended by industry stakeholders, suppliers, and locators [4]. The AI Tech Academy is a major milestone in Peza's digital transformation efforts and a step towards preparing the Philippine economy for the future of work.
[1] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (n.d.). AI Tech Academy. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/ai-tech-academy/ [2] Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021, August 6). Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for July 2021. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/manufacturing-purchasing-managers-index-pmi-july-2021 [3] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (2021, July 29). PEZA, TESDA, and Startek Collaborate to Establish AI Tech Academy. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/peza-tesda-and-startek-collaborate-to-establish-ai-tech-academy/ [4] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (n.d.). PEZA-Registered Enterprises. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/pezaregistered-enterprises/ [5] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (2021, July 29). PEZA, TESDA, and Startek Collaborate to Establish AI Tech Academy. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/peza-tesda-and-startek-collaborate-to-establish-ai-tech-academy/ [6] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (n.d.). Peza One-Stop Portal System. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/peza-one-stop-portal-system/ [7] Philippine Economic Zone Authority. (n.d.). Blockchain and Digital Trust Technologies. Retrieved from https://peza.gov.ph/blockchain-and-digital-trust-technologies/ [8] World Economic Forum. (2016, January 11). The Fourth Industrial Revolution: What it means and how to respond. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-what-it-means-and-how-to-respond/
- The government's goal, as expressed in the bid to transform economic zones, includes making the Philippines a global hub for advanced manufacturing, smart technologies, and sustainable development.
- The AI Tech Academy in Cebu, a partnership between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Startek, aims to prepare workers for future-ready roles by focusing on generative AI, automation, and strategic AI applications within the manufacturing and export industries.
- The establishment of the AI Tech Academy in Cebu is significant due to the city's strong industrial base and growing role in global supply chains, as it is home to over 424 Peza-registered enterprises.
- In addition to the AI Tech Academy, Peza is also developing the Peza One-Stop Portal System, an AI-powered platform for streamlining investor transactions, and is embracing blockchain and digital trust technologies through partnerships with platforms such as PHX.
- The Philippine industry, from Industry 1.0 to the present Industry 5.0, has evolved from steam-powered mills to smart factories using IoT and real-time data monitoring, prioritizing human-machine synergy, flexible production, resilience, and environmental stewardship.
