Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers renewed his call for the creation of a "superbody” that would be responsible for the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). 

In a statement Sunday, Oct. 27, Barbers cited the need for a multi-agency regulatory body that would deal with AI revolution to augment the existing skills of Filipinos. 

For one thing, it is seen to increase the productivity of enterprises and enhance competitiveness of the economy.   

"We Filipinos need to embrace AI because we cannot avoid it. Hindi dapat tayo magpahuli sa mga bagay na ito dahil malaki ang magiging impact nito sa ating lipunan, partikular na sa edukasyon, negosyo at ekonomiya,” said the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs. 

(We shouldn't get left behind in these things because it will make a huge impact on our community, particularly on education, business, and economy.) 

Barbers says almost every country in the world is already working on a policy or law on governing or harnessing knowledge from AI. 

Barbers said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the University of the Philippines (UP), the Department of Education (DepEd), among other government institutions, have crafted or currently crafting their respective policies on AI. 

“[But] we still have no national agency yet that would regulate it in a strategic and/or systematic manner,” he said. 

Barbers said that he filed in March last year House Bill (HB) No. 7396, which sought the creation of a multi-agency to be known as the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority (AIDA). 

AIDA is designed to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities in the development and implementation of a national AI strategy.  

“The bill, titled, ‘An Act Promoting the Development and Regulation of AI in the Philippines’, bats for a comprehensive framework for the development and regulation of AI in the country,” he explained. 

"While Filipinos recognize the importance of AI in the development of the country, the rapid phase of technological advancement in AI also poses risks and challenges that must be addressed to ensure that its benefits are maximized, and its negative impacts are minimized, if not avoided,” he said. 

The proposed legislation defines AI as an umbrella term that encompasses various forms of technology, including machine learning, deep learning, neural works, 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 to conduct risk assessments and impact analyses before deploying their technologies,” he said. 

Barbers said the bill includes provisions to protect the privacy and personal data of individuals to prevent discrimination and bias in AI technologies, ensure that AI systems are safe and secure, for organizations to be transparent about their use of AI, and provide meaningful explanations for the decisions made by AI systems. 

The proposed national AI agency, he said, would also act as a “watchdog” to guard and penalize unscrupulous individuals that would take advantage of or use of AI for their selfish or criminal ends.