BetterGov Data Challenges DICT’s claim PH AI Ranking Near Singapore

Data compiled by civic technology group BetterGov has challenged a claim by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda that the Philippines ranks close to Singapore in several areas of artificial intelligence readiness in Southeast Asia.

In a news interview, Aguda said the Philippines ranked “close to Singapore, one or two” when it comes to AI policy, governance, skills and capability, while acknowledging that the country falls behind in infrastructure.

The statement drew criticism from Jason Torres of BetterGov, who pointed to international datasets compiled on the group’s ASEAN in Data platform that show a wider gap between the Philippines and Singapore across several AI indicators.

“No, we’re not close to Singapore. I have receipts here,” Torres said in a Facebook post.

Torres said he built the ASEAN in Data platform specifically for this purpose and recommended using the available data when assessing the Philippines’ position in the region.

The platform keeps different international AI measurements separate because they cover different aspects of AI readiness, use different methodologies and come from different reference years.

PH fourth in AI readiness

Based on the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025 presented by BetterGov, the Philippines scored 60.51, ranking 43rd among 195 countries globally and fourth among the Southeast Asian countries in the comparison.

Courtesy of Jason Torres

Singapore led with a score of 76.42, ranking seventh globally. Thailand scored 63.22 and ranked 34th globally, while Malaysia scored 62.34 and ranked 38th.

Vietnam followed the Philippines with 59.98, while Indonesia recorded 59.87.

A separate International Monetary Fund (IMF) Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index based on 2023 data also shows a gap between the two countries.

Singapore recorded an index of 0.801, compared with 0.498 for the Philippines. Malaysia stood at 0.632, Thailand at 0.536, Indonesia at 0.516 and Vietnam at 0.482.

Infrastructure remains a major gap

The difference is also evident in AI infrastructure.

Using the 2024 Tortoise Global AI Index, BetterGov lists Singapore third out of 83 countries in the infrastructure sub-pillar.

Malaysia ranked 15th, Thailand 23rd and Vietnam 33rd, while the Philippines placed 60th out of 83. Indonesia ranked 72nd.

The IMF’s digital-infrastructure component likewise shows Singapore at 0.209, compared with 0.102 for the Philippines.

The figures are consistent with Aguda’s acknowledgment that infrastructure remains one of the country’s biggest weaknesses as the government pushes its Philippine AI Infrastructure Master Plan.

PH trails in AI talent

The gap is wider in the talent category presented by BetterGov.

Under the Tortoise Global AI Index 2024 talent sub-pillar, Singapore ranked sixth out of 83 countries, while the Philippines placed 78th.
Indonesia ranked 36th, Vietnam 49th, Malaysia 59th and Thailand 66th.

Policy progress does not equal overall ranking

The Philippines has nevertheless made progress in establishing its AI policy framework.

BetterGov lists the country’s National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0, launched in July 2024, among national AI governance instruments in the region.

The platform’s policy timeline also records the Philippines’ July 2024 launch of the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 alongside AI policy developments elsewhere in Southeast Asia.