Gov’t to create National AI Council this month

The national government is set to establish the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council this November following the approval of the AI governance framework, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev).

Speaking to reporters, DepDev Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon confirmed that the National Innovation Council has already approved the long-awaited AI governance framework.

The next step is the creation of the National AI Council through an executive order, which Edillon said they expect to be issued by President Marcos in two weeks.

“[The role of the council] is to oversee the implementation of the framework, to make sure it’s coherent. You really need the standards and assurance mechanism. You need to make sure that they really comply with the ethics and principle,” Edillon told reporters on the sidelines of the third-quarter economic performance briefing.

She said that there will be one technical working group (TWG) for each of the pillars outlined in the framework, which includes enabling resources, building expertise on AI, infrastructure support, resource development program and demand generation.

At least one private sector representative is also set to join the TWG.

The DepDev first announced the AI governance framework in late April.

The framework will follow the ecosystem of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy and adopt a human-centered and rights-based approach to AI.

It will serve as the government’s formal policy on AI, while the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Information and Communications Technology will continue implementing AI programs across sectors, including education, health and agriculture.

As it is, DepDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan mentioned the framework as among the government’s policy priorities to help steer the country’s economy to recovery following yet another disappointing growth of 2.1 percent in the third quarter.

“The National Innovation Council’s AI Governance Framework provides a basis for innovation that advances transparency, security, human-centered development, and responsible AI use. Technology must strengthen people’s capabilities and livelihoods,” he said in his speech.

“Foundational learning, nutrition, and health remain essential so Filipino workers can adapt, thrive, and lead,” he added.