The Philippines says ASEAN is moving toward closer cooperation on artificial intelligence as member states work on a regional digital-economy agreement. Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said a shared AI policy could take shape after the proposed ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, is signed in November. The announcement places the Philippines inside a wider effort to make digital trade more predictable while the region considers how emerging technologies should be governed. The policy is still prospective: ASEAN members have not yet finalized the programs or technical rules that would follow the agreement.
The proposed DEFA would establish common rules for cross-border e-commerce, paperless trading, electronic payments, trade facilitation, online consumer protection, data protection and privacy, and cooperation on AI and other emerging technologies. For businesses, those rules could reduce uncertainty when digital services and online transactions cross national borders. The agreement also signals that AI policy is being discussed alongside practical trade systems rather than as a separate technology issue. Any final commitments will depend on negotiations among ASEAN member states after the framework becomes effective.
Gepty said micro, small and medium enterprises could benefit from a more trusted environment for selling, transacting and expanding across Southeast Asia. That matters for Philippine companies that rely on online marketplaces, digital payments, cloud services or cross-border customer relationships. PNA also cited a projection that the region’s digital economy could reach $1 trillion by 2030. Alongside rules, the official said AI cooperation would likely involve upskilling, reskilling and workforce empowerment, although the eventual programs have yet to be specified.
The framework is scheduled for signing during the ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting and the ASEAN Summit in November 2026. Until then, the announcement should be read as a policy direction rather than an active regional AI law. The Philippines and its neighbors still need to negotiate implementation details, enforcement, privacy safeguards and support for smaller firms. For Viper.ph readers, the development shows how AI governance, electronic payments and digital commerce are increasingly being planned together across the region.
