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ECAIR — Education Center for AI Research

ECAIR is the Philippines Department of Education's public-sector AI research and development center, building and proving AI systems with education offices before handover.

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DepEd · OUPPE

Advancing DepEd's Five-Point Agenda through AI research and development.

ECAIR is the Philippines Department of Education's own center for AI research and development, established under DepEd Order No. 013, s. 2025 by Secretary Sonny Angara. We build and pilot AI systems with DepEd offices, currently in support of efficient learning delivery and a future-ready workforce.

How the Center is organized

Organized into three areas

ECAIR's work is organized into three areas—building AI tools with DepEd offices, building AI literacy across DepEd staff, and turning research into policy DepEd can use.

01 · Innovation

AI & Data Science

Machine learning, computer vision, and geospatial tools developed with DepEd offices, covering hazard forecasting, learner screening, and infrastructure planning.

02 · Capacity Building

Training & Talent

AI literacy programs for DepEd and TESDA staff, teacher training, and the Education AI Research Internship, a standing pipeline into public-sector AI work.

03 · Policy

Research & Governance

Research that leverages data to inform DepEd's education reforms, public investments, and decision-making, alongside the governance framework that oversees the Center's work.

The portfolio

What ECAIR is working on

Each project page covers what it does, why it's aligned with DepEd priorities, and which DepEd offices ECAIR is working with.

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Figures from the portfolio

The numbers so far.

47,000+
Schools covered by LIGTAS+ hazard forecasts
27M+
Learners DepEd serves nationwide
21,803
Aspiring principals assessed through DUNONG & SIKAP — the SIKAP brief adopted by NEAP & EDCOM II
92.9%
of public schools fall below the MDCI congestion threshold — the real gap is a tail of 389 schools
₱1B
2026 Library Hub budget allocated using SIBOL's prioritization method — now the Bureau of Learning Resources' standard
~100,000
free private-school seats PAARAL helps GASS target with voucher analytics to decongest public classrooms
Strategic alignment · FY 2026–2028

Alignment with the national mandate.

Each project maps to the Basic Education Development Plan, EDCOM II reforms, the Philippine Development Plan, and the National AI Strategy — measured by the reach and outcomes it delivers.

From ECAIR

Updates

Announcements, event notes, and field notes in ECAIR's own voice: milestones, governance lessons, and handover patterns from the build-and-prove work.

See all here →
The public record

Publications & reports

Policy briefs, governance frameworks, conference papers, and leadership reports — the evidence base behind the portfolio.

See all here →
Policy Conference Reports
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About us

Governance & leadership

ECAIR is the Philippines Department of Education's center for AI research and development, developing and piloting systems with DepEd offices before transitioning them to the unit that will run them permanently. The center was established in 2025 under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara, whose vision for responsible, evidence-based AI to help bridge gaps in Philippine education set the mandate for its work. It is housed under the Office of the Undersecretary for the PQF Secretariat, Policy and Planning Service, and ECAIR (OUPPE), and hosted operationally by SEAMEO INNOTECH.

DepEd Principals

ECAIR reports to the Office of the Undersecretary for the PQF Secretariat, Policy and Planning Service, and ECAIR (OUPPE), currently headed by Usec. Rafaelita M. Aldaba. It also works under the Department's leadership, including Secretary Sonny Angara and Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan.

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ECAIR Leadership
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