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The recent news on the National AI Prompt Design Challenge (NAIPDC), where participants built AI-powered applications without writing code, sparked a divide among the local tech community.
The competition’s emphasis on “vibe coding”, which uses natural language or intuition-driven prompts to generate app functions, fueled debate among Filipino developers, with some expressing concern over what they see as the decline of traditional programming.
Pro Prompters: General Support and Optimism
In the BitPinas post where the news was highlighted, many commenters emphasize that AI and no-code tools are empowering more Filipinos, regardless of technical background, to create practical solutions and innovate faster.
For one community member, they emphasized that while coding takes skill and precision, AI now allows anyone who can communicate well to create similar results through prompts. They stressed that in the end, what matters is the output, though combining coding and AI is the most powerful mix.
There are also some comments that point out AI as a helpful assistant, and others saw the shift as a sign of broader access, creativity, and evolving skill sets in the future of work.
A community member also shared his personal experience noting that, AI makes development faster and cheaper. They believe prompting will soon be as easy as saying, “Hey Google, build me an app,” and that the real challenge now is having great ideas.
Moreover, one commenter criticized the negativity and lack of reading comprehension in the discussion on the post, clarifying that the apps were not built purely through “vibe coding.” Instead, participants used prompt engineering on a platform with a pre-built tech infrastructure.
“Hindi po coding ang end-goal. Solutions to problems po… And yet, tayo, ang pinoproblema… Yung backend pa rin? While tama naman.. dapat solid foundation yung softwares, PERO again that’s been solved already. Lastly, yung judges po sa contest na yan ay high caliber personalities from the likes of Nvidia and so on. Decades of experience who won’t waste their time if the platform stands on a very weak foundation.”
BitPinas Community Member
Pro Programmers: Skepticism, Technical Concerns, and Criticism
On the other hand, some commenters expressed skepticism about no-code AI tools, raising concerns over users’ lack of understanding in debugging, backend development, and security.
One commenter believes AI is best used as a supportive tool for debugging, peer review, and research but not as a replacement for core programming skills. They noted that while AI can generate code, developers still need a solid understanding of code structure and design principles.
“And most of the time, the AI “can’t” give you everything. There’s parts missing in the code that [are] required to run the whole thing – assets, mechanics, or any other system that your code might need to rely on. There’s no telling what it is unless you’ve built one yourself first. So overall, if you use AI blindly, you’re going to have a hard time and it’s gonna be more expensive down the road. However, if you treat it as a companion or an assistant to help you with things, then definitely it can help you build stuff faster and more robust than before.”
BitPinas Community Member
Critics warned that “vibe coding” may lead to fragile, poorly built apps and cautioned against overhyping AI’s capabilities without addressing its technical limitations.
One of the comments also emphasized that while AI can generate a wide range of outputs, it should be tested and applied to real, urgent issues. They highlight that AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, and only those working directly with AI truly understand its limitations.
Competition Context
Close to 600 Filipinos, including students and professionals from over 40 schools and 20 industries, participated in the NAIPDC, a nationwide initiative that empowered participants to build no-code AI applications addressing real-world issues.
Organized by Straits Interactive (Singapore) and the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines (AAP), the challenge promoted AI accessibility and digital inclusion, particularly spotlighting the role of prompt engineering as a gateway skill for nontechnical users.
Participants built a wide range of AI-powered apps, including chatbots for exporters, building permit guidance, and government ID assistance. They also created tools for productivity, education, diagnostics, and cultural learning.
This article is published on BitPinas: Programmers vs Prompters: Filipino Netizens Clash Over AI-Generated Apps and ‘Vibe Coding’
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