Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano cautioned that the Philippines could face a “double whammy” in its healthcare system if the government does not accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) even as Filipino health workers continue to migrate in search of greener pastures abroad.

During his interpellation on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Health (DOH), Cayetano stated that the Philippines cannot afford to fall behind in AI at a time when hospitals and clinics already face manpower shortages.

“AI creators naman are saying na for every technology, it creates more jobs. Ang kaibahan sa health, tuloy pa rin ang pag-alis ng health professionals natin tapos ‘di pa tayo marunong [gumamit ng] AI, double whammy (AI creators say that every new technology generates more jobs. The difference in health, however, is that our health professionals continue to leave while we still don’t know how to use AI—double whammy),” he said.

Cayetano said AI has become a major trend across industries and must now be part of public health planning.

“Whether you talk about the markets, labor, call centers, business, even in church, health, pinag-uusapan AI (AI is being discussed). I was expecting that some of the answers of all agencies in this budget hearing will be with AI or papunta roon (or moving in that direction),” he said.

“Is this another tech shift na maiiwan ang Pilipinas? If ‘yes,’ sana hindi sa health side (Is this another tech shift that the Philippines will be left behind in? If so, I hope it won’t be in the health sector),” he added.

The DOH, through Secretary Ted Herbosa, said it is preparing an AI agenda aligned with the President’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship next year.

The department also stated that it had agreements for data centres supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sovereign wealth fund. It is also collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on procurement and supply chain support.

Cayetano said that despite the movements of the department, the DOH needs a solid strategy to identify the most effective AI applications and should have its own in-house AI expert to lead the effort.

He stressed that delays in adopting new technology will leave the country further behind.

“Ang problema sa tech, one year delay is not one year delay. When you talk about AI, when you’re delayed one year, you’re delayed five years. Uunahan ka na ng iba (The problem with technology is that a one-year delay is not just a one-year delay. When it comes to AI, a one-year delay sets you back five years. Others will overtake you),” he said.

Cayetano urged the department to commit to a serious AI plan before the budget process wraps up.

“I would like a commitment from them [DOH] na seseryosohin nila ito (that they will take this thing seriously) and a submission as soon as possible,” he said.