A secondary school in an Indigenous Peoples (IP) community in Mindanao has inaugurated what is described as the Philippines’ first artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory for public school students.
The facility at Dansolihon National High School (DNHS) in Cagayan de Oro was established through a partnership between the local government and Skunkworks, a private technology firm specialising in AI, coding, digital literacy, data annotation and related skills.
Local officials and education leaders said the project seeks to introduce students to emerging technologies at an early stage while broadening access to digital tools often concentrated in urban centres.
Training students in emerging technologies
Skunkworks president Thor Turecha said the laboratory would give IP students hands-on exposure to AI applications, ranging from drone operations to data-driven literacy.
He described the initiative as an opportunity to open pathways for rural communities.
“This is not just a school or a lab. It’s a launchpad for innovation, making Cagayan de Oro the future ‘Creative Technology Capital of the Philippines,’” he said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
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Ahead of the launch, selected DNHS teachers underwent training facilitated by Skunkworks to prepare them for integrating AI into the curriculum.
Education officials welcomed the project as a way to equip students with relevant skills.
Dr Rey Angelo Gazo, superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) City Division, said it marked an important step in “shaping the future of innovation” and preparing young people for an increasingly digital economy.
Local backing
The initiative is part of the Local School Board’s programmes under the leadership of Mayor Rolando Uy, who said the collaboration with Skunkworks and DepEd reflects the city’s commitment to strengthening education.
Turecha said Dansolihon was chosen as the pilot site because of its distinctive cultural setting, with most students belonging to the Lumad community.
He added that the vision was to “transform a village and make innovation happen” by integrating advanced technology into an Indigenous area.
A second AI hub is expected to open later this year at City Central School, extending the programme beyond the pilot community.
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Digitalisation efforts
Alongside the school-based initiative, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has reiterated its support for local government units (LGUs) across Northern Mindanao in advancing digital governance.
DICT provincial officer in Misamis Oriental, Nideliza Nacilla, told newly elected officials that the agency would continue assisting municipalities seeking to expand their use of digital tools in public service delivery.
“We are here to support you in transforming trust into real impact,” she said.
Officials said such efforts align with national goals to decentralise technological resources and encourage innovation outside the country’s major urban centres.
The AI laboratory in Cagayan de Oro is expected to serve as a test case for whether advanced digital training can be integrated effectively into public education in rural and Indigenous communities, with lessons from the project potentially shaping future initiatives nationwide.
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