Manila, 28 November – UNESCO, in collaboration with the Philippine government, has completed the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology – marking a significant step in the Philippines’ ethical AI governance journey. This milestone report is expected to complement the country’s ongoing development of the National AI Strategy for the Philippines and other initiatives to ensure responsible AI governance.From September 2024, policy consultation workshops were conducted across the three major island groups of the Philippines—Luzon (Manila), Visayas (Cebu), and Mindanao (Davao). These workshops brought together professionals from various sectors to evaluate the country’s AI landscape across five dimensions: 1) legal/regulatory; 2) socio-cultural; 3) economy; 4) scientific and educational; and 5) technical/infrastructural, culminating in the development of the country’s AI Readiness Assessment Report.Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, UNESCO Director and Representative to the Philippines:“It is critical for ethics to be the foundation of AI governance. It is what allows technology to remain connected to humanity, and what enables us to use knowledge as a force for inclusion and sustainable development. UNESCO deeply values the dedication of our national partners. Together, we have laid the path forward for a transformative and inclusive AI ecosystem.”Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., Department of Science and Technology (DOST):“AI is opening tremendous opportunities for the Philippines. Through the National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS Ph) we will ensure that AI innovation is accessible, ethical, and responsive to real societal needs. We warmly welcome the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report and look forward to the strategic and inclusive collaborative efforts that will make the Philippines AI-ready.”Arnaud Peral, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator“The enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to accelerate the country’s development trajectory, while emphasizing that these advancements must benefit all people. The Philippines stands at an inflection point as it carves the AI future it wants.Inclusiveness must be at the center of these considerations. Harnessing AI responsibly can unlock opportunities across sectors, but it is imperative that no one is left behind.”As the Philippines moves forward on its AI journey, the report serves as both a roadmap and a call to action for all sectors to collaborate in shaping an ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem. The key findings and recommendations offer a comprehensive look at where the Philippines stands in its AI readiness and what steps need to be taken to ensure that AI benefits all citizens. Key Findings: Philippines’s AI landscapeThe report identified several crucial areas for Philippines’s AI readiness, including:Regulatory Framework and AI Governance: There is a need for a dedicated lead agency to consolidate national AI governance efforts. As well as leveraging the use of existing regulations, guidelines and legal frameworks—such as the Data Privacy Act of 2020 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 to bridge the regulatory gaps in data protection, cybersecurity, and cross-border data flow.Socio-Cultural impact: Lack of affordable, reliable, and accessible broadband internet hinder the efforts to effectively raise digital competency. Despite such challenges, the Philippines has shown progress in narrowing gender disparity and growing awareness on the importance of AI ethics in government, industry, academia, and civil society. However, public trust in AI technologies remains mixed, with concerns centred on job displacement, explainability, transparency, regulatory compliance, and data misuse.Economic, Scientific and Research: The national AI market size is projected to reach US$3,4877 million by 2030. AI adoption in private sector is quite strong, driven by optimistic views on productivity gains. Still the Philippines need toto improve its domestic innovation capacity in order to sustain growth and become globally competitive.Key Policy Recommendations:The report outlines several key policy recommendations, particularly in the areas of:Embedding Ethics in AI policy: Further academic and policy research is needed to investigate ‘ethics’ in the Philippine context rather than relying solely on the mainstream western definition and abstraction of ethics. Ethical context must be interpreted from the lens of the Filipino through historical, sociological, and anthropological research to ensure fit-for-purpose regulatory standards.Increase funding for capacity building, research and development: The establishment of National AI Research Fund under the purview of the DOST-PCIEERD could provide dedicated support for local AI research and innovation. Industry associations and academia are encouraged to analyse which AI use cases would benefit most from increased R&D funding, especially in critical sectors like IT-BPO, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.About the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence:With its unique mandate, UNESCO has led the international effort to ensure that science and technology develop with strong ethical guardrails for decades. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was adopted by 194 member states. The Recommendation is the first global standard setting instrument with applicable Policy Action Areas, which allow policymakers to translate the core values and principles into action with respect to data governance, environment and ecosystems, gender, education and research, and health and social wellbeing, among many other spheres.About Readiness Assessment Methodology:The Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) includes a range of quantitative and qualitative questions designed to gather information about different dimensions related to a country’s AI ecosystem, including the legal and regulatory, social, and cultural, economic, scientific, and educational, and technological and infrastructural dimensions. The RAM is currently implemented in 80 countries globally. The Philippines AI Readiness Assessment through the RAM tool is supported by the European Union through the Directorate-General for International Partnership on the “Supporting Member States in Implementing UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI through Innovative Tools” and International Telecommunications Union for its support via the “Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia”.Link to the Philippines AI Global Observatory: Philippines | Global AI Ethics and Governance ObservatoryLink to the Philippines AI Readiness Assessment Report: Philippines: artificial intelligence readiness assessment report - UNESCO Digital Library Access all materials and event documentationhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iDSBZmad1IiUYa3jDsosdPIQPCO64X-L?usp=sharing

 MANILA – Malls and icons across the Philippines, including the SM North EDSA Tunnel, were illuminated orange on 24 November to launch the global 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), an annual initiative to raise awareness about one of the country’s most pervasive social problems and the measures that are being implemented to address it.Through a collaboration of United Nations Philippines, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and SM Cares, select SM Malls will participate in the annual “Orange Your Icon” initiative of the Philippine Government, aiming to spark public interest, discourse and support for anti-VAW advocacy efforts.  The Philippine illumination activities add the country’s lights to the “Orange the World” UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence Against Women campaign, which is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 5.2 that calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Orange is the signature color of the global campaign, representing a future free from gender-based violence.“Violence against women is one of the world’s most persistent human rights violations, which has sadly been normalized in many settings,” said United Nations Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral. “We must intensify our individual and joint efforts to shift the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate and rationalize gender-based violence to prevent such acts of abuse. The 18-Day Campaign puts the spotlight on this important issue so more people can better understand and address the many forms of violence brought about by gender inequality.” Based on the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey, 18% of Filipino women aged 18 to 49 have experienced some form of physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of their partner. However, reporting of VAW cases is low—the Philippine National Police estimates that only 1 in every 10 VAW incidents is reported to authorities.“We are here because we recognize that violence against women is not inevitable, and it is not acceptable - not now, and not ever in the future. Our gathering here tonight is a declaration that we will eventually end violence against women and we will never stop until we see the end of it,” said PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla.UN agencies in the Philippines and other development partners continue to support government-led efforts to address violence against women and girls, including the development of the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Women (NAP EVAW) 2025–2030, a multi-sectoral strategy aimed at eliminating VAW through stronger prevention, improved survivor services, and enhanced accountability.“As we gather for the 18 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, we illuminate the road to healing. We are making a collective stand, refusing to let gender-based violence remain in the shadows,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte at the campaign kick-off event. Since 2021, Quezon City has assisted over 31,000 women through comprehensive monitoring of VAW cases, response through the Quezon City Protection Center and Bahay Kanlungan shelter, and helplines and other points of contact that women can turn to for help.To strengthen these vital government and multilateral initiatives, the private sector plays a key role in raising public awareness and creating safer environments.“We are committed to helping eradicate violence against women, and SM Cares continues to champion the annual ‘18-Day Campaign to End VAW,’ together with the Philippine Commission on Women and the United Nations,” said Atty. Pearl Turley, Program Director of the SM Cares Program on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers and SAVP for Corporate Compliance at SM Supermalls. “We will keep turning advocacy into action and ensuring our malls remain safe spaces. Ending VAW requires all of us.”The global 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) will run in participating SM Malls across the country from 25 November to 12 December 2025.
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 We extend our deepest sympathies and unwavering solidarity with the people of Cebu and surrounding areas following the devastating earthquake that struck the province. This follows multiple storms that have hit the country these past weeks. We mourn the loss of lives and the suffering endured by families and communities, and we stand with all those affected during this difficult time. The United Nations commends national and local authorities for swift response. We are, together with the government and partners, assessing impact and remain ready to support response and recovery efforts. We commend the courage and dedication of first responders, medical personnel, and volunteers who are working tirelessly to save lives and provide relief. In moments of crisis, unity and compassion are our greatest strengths. The United Nations reaffirms its commitment to stand with the people of the Philippines and to help build back stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.

Manila - The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in the Philippines welcomes the signing of Republic Act No. 12287, also known as “An Act Establishing a Mechanism on The Declaration Of State Of Imminent Disaster”. RA 12287 is a landmark piece of legislation and the first in the world that institutionalizes anticipatory measures, empowering national and local authorities to take early action to protect lives and livelihoods before a disaster strikes.Anticipatory actions are proactive measures that can prevent or reduce the impact of hazards, such as climate-related events, before they fully unfold. It involves using early warnings and forecasts to deploy humanitarian assistance before the peak impacts which helps to save lives and livelihoods and protect development gains.We commend the Government of the Philippines for its leadership in institutionalizing anticipatory action. We also recognize the Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (AATWG), the Policy, Financing and Institutionalization Technical Sub-working Group (PFI TSG) co-led by World Food Programme, for their significant technical support and for providing a platform for learning and exchange across multiple anticipatory action initiatives.The HCT recognizes RA 12287 as a significant policy that strengthens the Philippines’ disaster risk reduction and response system. It aligns with the HCT’s commitment to localization, resilience, and inclusive humanitarian action. The law empowers local government units (LGUs) and communities to act before a disaster. The HCT supports the integration of anticipatory action into local disaster risk reduction and management plans to reinforce preparedness at the community level, and advocates for an all-hazards approach.The HCT stands ready to continue working in close collaboration with the AATWG, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), LGUs, local NGOs and civil society organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the law. This includes the development of implementing rules and regulations and investing in capacity-building initiatives.The Philippines HCT, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Arnaud Peral, ensures that humanitarian action by its members is well coordinated, principled, timely, and effective. The HCT comprises UNs agencies, international NGOs, local NGO networks, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) with observers from the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and donor governments. The HCT acts in support of and in coordination with national and local authorities with the objective of ensuring that inter-agency humanitarian action alleviates human suffering and protects the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people in need.------------Media ContactMelissa Correa - melissa.correa at un.org​