Philippines & Google Cloud expand AI & cyber defence

The Philippines' Department of Information and Communications Technology and Google Cloud have agreed a multi-year partnership on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity focused on public services and government networks.

The agreement covers the use of Google's AI tools by public servants, a cross-agency cyber defence programme at the National Security Operations Centre, and network links tied to subsea cable and domestic connectivity infrastructure.

Under the public sector AI programme, Gemini Enterprise and Google Workspace have been made available to civil servants through the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management's eMarketplace platform, which is intended to support the procurement of cloud and AI services across agencies.

DICT plans to use the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform to build and manage AI agents for citizen-facing services. The tools could be integrated into e-government systems so citizens can ask questions in local languages about administrative procedures, including setting up a micro-business, checking health centre schedules and seeking disaster relief guidance.

Officials also outlined internal uses for the tools across the civil service. More than 50,000 public servants will initially receive access to the Gemini Enterprise app, with broader use by more than 200,000 planned over the next 18 months.

Examples include building officials retrieving pending permit applications from separate data sources and economic analysts using AI agents to track fertiliser prices, identify supply chain anomalies and draft cited briefing notes for review. The system also connects with Google Workspace and third-party workplace software, including Microsoft 365.

Henry Rhoel Aguda, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, outlined the government's view of the initiative.

"Transformation is not defined by the adoption of sophisticated software tools alone, but by facilitating sustained systemic efficiency across public institutions and widespread access to e-government services. DICT is accelerating 'Digital Bayanihan' with partners like Google Cloud, where AI-driven systems, proactive cyber defense, and network infrastructure operate in tandem to provide every citizen with access to public services and high-speed connectivity within a secure online environment. We're empowering our public servants with world-class AI tools and upskilling programs to help them remove bureaucratic friction, optimize public sector productivity, and deliver seamless, next-generation services that better serve and uplift our people in every community," Aguda said.

Cyber defence

A second strand of the partnership focuses on cybersecurity across government bodies. DICT's Cybersecurity Bureau has formed a cross-agency cyber defence alliance with support from Google Cloud and deployed Google Cloud Cybershield at the National Security Operations Centre.

So far, 56 government agencies have been onboarded and trained to use the system, with 90 due to join the programme by the end of June 2026. The aim is to centralise monitoring of security events and improve coordination when threats affect government systems and critical infrastructure.

The cyber framework is also being used to protect the digital operations of the ASEAN summits hosted by the Philippines. The arrangement is intended to help public sector security teams detect, investigate and respond to anomalies before they interrupt essential services.

Jennifer Ligones, Country Manager, Philippines, Google Cloud, said: "Our collaboration with DICT is designed to democratize the benefits of AI, converting global innovations into localized, conversational public services that reach and serve everyone, and where public servants are empowered to solve complex challenges in minutes rather than months. We're building a future where best-in-class enterprise AI capabilities and high-speed data pipelines act as public utilities that unlock new job opportunities, protect critical national infrastructure, and help establish the Philippines as a leading digital economy in the Asia Pacific region."

Connectivity plans

The project also links DICT's digital services agenda with wider connectivity plans. Google and partners in the Pacific Connect initiative are extending the Taiwan-Philippines-U.S. subsea cable system, while the Apricot cable system is positioned as a second route to improve resilience and reduce dependence on congested paths.

DICT said the cable systems will be connected with commercial terrestrial networks and the department's Luzon Bypass Infrastructure corridor. This could ease domestic routing bottlenecks and allow more network resources to be directed towards its Free Wi-Fi for All programme in schools, hospitals and community centres.

The partnership reflects a broader push by the Philippine government to align digital public services, cybersecurity and network infrastructure under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. DICT said it will track adoption, productivity gains, cost savings and user satisfaction as it expands AI access across the public sector.