Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers reiterated on Sunday the need for a superbody to serve as a guardrail in the development, usage, and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI).
As the overall chair of the Quad Committee, Barbers emphasized that the Philippines requires a multi-agency regulatory body to address the AI revolution.
The proposed body is aimed at upskilling Filipino workers, boosting enterprise productivity, and improving the competitiveness of the economy.
“Almost all countries in the world are already implementing national policies or laws on the continuous development of knowledge about AI. We Filipinos need to embrace AI because we cannot avoid it. We should not be left behind in these matters because it would have a big impact on our society, particularly in education, business, and the economy,” he stated.
While the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines (UP), and Department of Education (DepEd) have either crafted or are currently developing their policies on AI, Barbers noted that “we still have no national agency yet that would regulate it in a strategic and/or systematic manner.”
In March 2023, he filed House Bill No. 7396, which seeks to establish a multi-agency entity known as the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority.
“The bill titled An Act Promoting the Development and Regulation of AI in the Philippines advocates for a comprehensive framework for the development and regulation of AI in the country,” he explained.
The proposed measures define AI as an umbrella term that encompasses various forms of technology, including machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.
“It outlines the principles of responsible AI usage and development, which include transparency, fairness, accountability, and privacy. It likewise requires organizations that develop or deploy AI technologies to adhere to these principles and conduct risk assessments and impact analyses before deploying their technologies,” he added.
