NEWS RELEASE: 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

BUTUAN CITY, February 3, 2026 – 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗜) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗮𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗵 𝗩. 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Addressing more than 600 participants from across the country, Dr. Ravago opened her presentation with a brief historical overview of artificial intelligence, highlighting its roots in economic development and its growing influence on governance and education systems. She underscored that AI’s expanding role in national development is “one of the reasons the Department of Education is now a permanent member of the National Economic and Development Authority’s education council.”

Dr. Ravago discussed AI’s potential impact on the global economy, explaining that artificial intelligence, introduced in 1955 by John McCarthy, “is a machine capability designed to mimic human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, and decision-making.” She emphasized, however, that while AI relies heavily on pattern recognition, “human judgment remains indispensable in interpreting and acting on AI-generated information.”

The SEAMEO INNOTECH Director stressed that AI presents both opportunities and challenges for the education sector, noting the importance of responsible AI readiness. She urged education leaders and planners to “look beyond technology adoption and consider the broader implications of AI in a world where it has become increasingly indispensable.”

Dr. Ravago recommended the strategic integration of AI to help modernize education and governance, pointing out that AI now influences not only how information is delivered, but also how decisions are made. At the same time, she cautioned that AI is not neutral, as embedded biases can shape outputs based on user behavior and preferences.

She emphasized that governance must come before large-scale implementation, underscoring the need for strong human oversight, ethical safeguards, and strict adherence to data privacy policies. She warned that indiscriminate use of AI may compromise data protection, reinforcing the importance of aligning AI use with the Data Privacy Act and sound governance frameworks.

The National Planning Conference, which runs from February 3 to 5, 2026, continues to serve as a platform for education leaders, planners, and stakeholders to explore innovative approaches and emerging technologies that can strengthen evidence-based planning and improve learning outcomes nationwide.

By: Public Affairs Unit

DepEd Caraga

NB. The title “2025 National Planning Conference” has been retained despite the activity being held in 2026. The conference was originally scheduled for implementation in 2025; however, it was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Keeping the original title preserves the integrity of the 2025 planning cycle and maintains alignment with the preparatory documents and communications already issued for that year.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

Read related stories at these links:

#LearningInnovationSEE MORE PHOTOS THROUGH THIS LINK