Angara leads AI-driven P1-B Library Hubs rollout to boost literacy

 

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MAKATI CITY, 16 April 2026—The Department of Education (DepEd) will use an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to guide PhP1-billion in investments for Library Hubs, ensuring the program reaches the schools and learners that need them the most. 

The Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), DepEd’s AI and innovation hub, developed a resource allocation tool that will pinpoint school locations where learners need to improve reading proficiency. This will allow the department to strategically place Library Hubs funded under the 2026 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF).

The initiative aligns with DepEd’s 5-point agenda which seeks to address the country's urgent literacy gaps through evidence-based reforms.

"Data-driven policymaking is central to the education reforms we envision. Initiatives like this demonstrate how data science can help DepEd make smarter investments—ensuring that resources reach the schools and learners that need them the most," Secretary Sonny Angara said. 

The project comes in response to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) findings, which highlighted the need for equitable resource distribution.

By crunching national education and administrative datasets, the algorithm identifies candidate schools based on learning needs, expected utilization, and equity considerations. 

This move departs from traditional and often arbitrary allocation methods that have historically slowed down literacy improvements in the regions.

Undersecretary for Learning Systems Strand Carmela Oracion underscored that school libraries and library hubs are critical platforms for fostering a national reading culture. 

"By working with ECAIR to incorporate data into planning and prioritization, we can ensure that our investments better support learners in our schools," Usec. Oracion said.

"Education systems generate vast amounts of data, but the challenge is turning that data into actionable insights," explained Dr. Erika Legara, ECAIR Managing Director and Chief AI and Data Officer. She emphasized that such technology ensures large-scale public investments will deliver the greatest learning impact possible.

DepEd Library Hubs serve as warehouse libraries that provide public schools with easy access to a vast collection of high-quality supplementary reading materials to improve functional literacy. 

These hubs act as central repositories where public school teachers can borrow books and educational resources in bulk for their students, typically for 25 to 30 days.

Looking ahead, ECAIR and BLR plan to further develop the tool to guide DepEd in identifying future investments in supplementary instructional materials in order to deliver the greatest possible learning gains

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