Future belongs to those who adapt, says PLDT COO as telco pushes AI upskilling nationwide

• PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. at the recent Philippine Telco Summit 2026, in photo with Globe President and CEO Carl Raymond Cruz.

PLDT is reframing the artificial intelligence conversation from disruption to opportunity, with its top technology executive urging Filipinos to see AI not as a threat, but as a tool for growth.

At the Philippine Telco Summit 2026 organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez Jr. said the rise of AI is inevitable — but how individuals and institutions respond will determine who benefits.

“AI is going to happen, whether we like it or not,” Jimenez said during a panel discussion. “The real question is how we respond. If we embrace it and learn how to use it, AI can help protect or diversify your job, open new opportunities, and make people more productive.”

Jimenez acknowledged concerns about automation replacing roles but argued that accessible, practical AI tools are already helping level the playing field for workers, creators, and small businesses. From transcription software to content generation and workflow automation, many applications are affordable and easy to deploy.

“There are AI applications today that are affordable, easy to use, and immediately useful,” he said. “The key is helping people understand which tools make sense for them—and giving them the confidence to try.”

That push for confidence and capability is anchored on infrastructure. PLDT has invested in AI-ready networks and facilities, including the VITRO Sta. Rosa hyperscale data center in Laguna — the country’s first facility built specifically to support AI workloads. The site was inaugurated in 2025 by Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

The facility also hosts Pilipinas AI, described as the country’s first sovereign AI solutions stack. By keeping data and workloads hosted locally, the platform aims to help enterprises and institutions deploy AI capabilities while maintaining data sovereignty and security.

Beyond enterprise clients, PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. are extending AI literacy efforts to communities through AI-in-a-Box, a program launched in 2025 that provides connectivity, tools, training, and support to local government units, schools, MSMEs, media organizations, and community groups.

The initiative has reached beneficiaries from Baguio to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, aiming to demystify AI and demonstrate practical use cases in education, governance, and small business operations.

On the policy front, Jimenez cited continued engagement with regulators, including the National Telecommunications Commission, as the industry navigates reforms such as the Konektadong Pinoy Act. He said dialogue between government and telcos has helped clarify issues around spectrum utilization and pricing safeguards.

“The real measure of success,” Jimenez said, echoing the President, “is how much these policies improve Filipino lives. Faster or cheaper internet only matters if it actually makes life better.”

PLDT’s broader connectivity strategy includes testing Radisys point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access technology and piloting Google Taara laser communication systems to deliver fiber-like speeds to hard-to-reach areas such as Talim Island in Rizal, Dipaluda in Isabela, and parts of Quezon City. Smart has also partnered with Lynk Global to enable direct-to-device satellite-powered mobile connectivity for SMS and app use in areas without traditional cell coverage.

These efforts complement national initiatives such as Konektadong CHED and Bayanihan SIM, which aim to expand digital access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

For Jimenez, the message is straightforward: adaptation is no longer optional.

“Our mission is simple: reach more Filipinos by delivering meaningful connections and experiences,” he said. “By working closely with government and industry partners, we can deploy stronger, more resilient networks—and ensure that new technologies like AI create real opportunities for people across the country.”

As AI reshapes workplaces and industries, PLDT’s position is clear: the future will favor those willing to learn, collaborate, and pivot with confidence.