A GROUP of lawmakers from the Bicol Region is pushing a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) in support of the National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS Ph) recently approved by President Marcos.
The legislators led by Camarines Sur Rep. Migz Villafuerte, chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), said the proposed Bill of Rights on AI, embodied in House Bill (HB) 2827, backs the NAIS Ph by providing the guiding principles to ensure that this fast-evolving technology is always “accessible, ethical and responsive” in serving the material needs of society.
NAIS Ph is a government policy on the “safe, responsible and ethical” integration of this disruptive innovation into public services across the pillars of Government, technology, data and infrastructure.
Co-authors of HB 2827 were House Deputy Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte, Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon. Luigi Villafuerte and Horibata both represent Camarines Sur.
The proposed framework under HB 2827, or the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development and Regulation Act,” is contingent on establishing four institutions to implement and oversee policies meant for the government to best adapt to the fast-paced evolution of AI and AI systems.
The measure seeks the creation of a Philippine Council on Artificial Intelligence (PCAI) which will serve as a policy-making and advisory body of experts under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and an Artificial Intelligence Board (AIB) composed of the DICT Secretary as chairperson and the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as co-chairperson, to exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the development of Al systems.
As envisioned, the AIB is empowered to investigate, impose and collect fines and penalties, initiate and resolve the necessary administrative action, or initiate the necessary criminal case against violators of this Act.
The bill also proposed the setting up of a National Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (NCAIR) which will be a DOST-attached agency primarily responsible for policy and program coordination.
The NCAIR shall always strive to improve the skills, education and knowledge of employees in sectors that are prone to Al replacement to protect them from any prolonged displacement; and
Additionally, an Artificial Intelligence subgroup under the National Innovation Council (NIC) will be established to promote synergy among the government and private sector and the academe on the development of AI.
HB 2827 draws up the guiding principles and Bill of Rights on developing, applying, and using AI systems, with special focus on research and development (R&D), digitization and infrastructure, workforce development, governance policies, and job displacement.
“AI holds great promise for significant advancements in various aspects of human life, but it at the same presents an outspread of risks, including privacy and security violations, misinformation and disinformation, job displacement, potential bias and discrimination of algorithms, and intellectual property infringement,” Migz Villafuerte said.
“The 20th Congress needs to craft a set of rules and regulations on AI control as this disruptive technology has been linked to the proliferation of deepfakes or AI fakery aimed at manipulating and deceiving the public, which can have serious political and social implications,” Villafuerte said.
