Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano envisions a future in which universities take the lead in driving innovation and policymaking in the Philippines.
He shared this view during his April 16, 2026 visit to Cebu Technological University’s main campus in response to a student leader who asked how the institution could evolve into a smart university to better serve students in remote areas of Cebu.
Cayetano responded: “I would like to see the day when our universities lead the way in idealism and activism in terms of policy. Universities are usually not part of a corrupt system kasi ang idealism nasa inyo. So the challenge is how do you graduate and change the system rather than graduate and become part of the system.”
He specifically pointed to CTU’s potential role in Cebu, saying he wants to see the university as “a driver of policy — whether to your provincial government, congressmen or congresswomen, mayors, or to the whole country.”
He emphasized that universities, especially those specializing in technology, should take the lead in shaping policy and public service in their respective areas.
“Anong age ba ngayon, hindi ba information age? Age ng innovation, technology, at AI (artificial intelligence)? Sino dapat ang nagle-lead niyan? Mga university na may specialization in technology,” he said, referring to CTU.
Cayetano also urged the students to choose optimism and action amid rapid technological change, particularly with the rise of AI despite many reports highlighting its risks such as job losses and industry disruptions.
“It’s all negative (news) about AI… Then I read the statement of India’s Prime Minister Modi that AI will even build up more millionaires and billionaires than before… and that it will create thousands or hundreds of thousands of high quality jobs,” he said.
Closing his message, Cayetano encouraged CTU students to hold on to their idealism, resist self-doubt, and believe in their capacity to innovate and succeed.
“As Cebuanos and as members of this great university, you have a choice: will you be a mighty warrior? Will you be mighty innovators?” he said.