Western Visayas has adopted a regional artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework aimed at guiding the technology’s use in public services while positioning the region as a hub for innovation, investment, and talent development.
The Western Visayas Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Policy 2025–2030 establishes rules covering AI systems developed, procured, and deployed by government agencies, local government units, state universities, and other institutions involved in public-impact initiatives. It spans sectors such as governance, education, research, and economic development.
The policy was endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI and advanced by the Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee (RRDIC).
It was formally turned over to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) during the council’s first-quarter meeting in Malay, Aklan on March 20.
In a memorandum dated March 17, DOST Western Visayas regional director Rowen Gelonga said the framework would “guide the ethical, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable development and use of AI within Region VI.”
The policy sets out governance structures, implementation phases, and monitoring mechanisms, while aligning with national and international frameworks, including the Philippine Development Plan and global guidelines from organizations such as Unesco and Asean.
It also introduces risk classifications for AI applications, with stricter requirements for high-risk uses in areas such as public services, health, education, law enforcement, and employment.
Systems used for hiring, performance evaluation, and credit assessment may be subject to additional safeguards, including impact assessments, transparency measures, human oversight, and periodic review.
Officials said the framework is also intended to attract investment by pairing innovation with regulatory safeguards, while strengthening workforce readiness and institutional capacity.
Policy innovation expert Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who helped shape the framework, said the approach aims to integrate governance into the region’s economic strategy.
She noted that building partnerships across government, industry, and academe will be key to positioning Western Visayas as a center for digital services and co-innovation.
The policy’s implementation plan includes training programs for policymakers, technical personnel, and legal and ethics officers, alongside efforts to embed ethical standards in AI-related projects.
With the move, Western Visayas becomes one of the first regions in the country to formalize AI governance at the subnational level, as government agencies push to expand the use of emerging technologies beyond Metro Manila.
