Congressman Jude A. Acidre Collaborates with SEAMEO INNOTECH to Strengthen AI Policy Development in Education

TINGOG Partylist Representative and House Deputy Majority Leader Jude A. Acidre discusses AI’s impact on education and its ethical challenges.

Quezon City, Philippines — SEAMEO INNOTECH is excited to announce its significant collaboration with TINGOG Partylist Representative and House Deputy Majority Leader Jude A. Acidre, aimed at advancing AI policy development in education. This partnership reflects Rep. Acidre’s commitment to shaping the future of AI in the Philippines and ensuring its responsible and equitable integration into the educational system.

The collaboration was prominently featured during the recent knowledge-sharing series, “Fostering the I in AI.” The first part of the series wrapped up with a key webinar, “AI Governance in Education: Navigating Ethical Implications and Policy Development,” held on August 16, 2024. The session, streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, attracted around 200 online participants from across the Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, the Middle East, and India, amassing over 19,000 combined views on the platforms.

A central highlight of the webinar was Rep. Acidre’s keynote speech, where he explored AI’s transformative potential in education and provided a comprehensive overview of the current AI policy landscape in the Philippines. Rep. Acidre emphasized AI’s ability to personalize learning, automate routine tasks for educators, and bridge educational gaps in underserved areas. However, he also highlighted the pressing ethical concerns associated with AI integration, including data privacy, bias, and the need to preserve the human elements of education. He proposed several guiding principles for effective AI governance: equity and accessibility, transparency and accountability, ethical AI development and use, continuous learning and adaptation, and collaborative governance.

Rep. Acidre’s impactful quote encapsulated his vision for AI in education: “AI has the potential to revolutionize education in the Philippines, offering new opportunities for personalized learning, improved outcomes, and greater equity. However, to realize this potential, we must navigate carefully the ethical implications and challenges that come with artificial intelligence.”

In his speech, Rep. Acidre laid out the legislative context surrounding AI in the Philippines. He discussed recent legislative efforts to address the challenges and opportunities of AI. Among these are House Bill No. 7600, which Representative Joey Salceda authored to empower the Intellectual Property Office to block websites using generative AI for copyright-infringed material. Representative Keith Micah Tan’s proposed House Bill No. 7983 seeks to establish the Philippine Council on Artificial Intelligence, while Representative Robert Ace Barbers has authored House Bill No. 7396, the Act Promoting the Development and Regulation of AI in the Philippines. This bill proposes the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority (AIDA), tasked with overseeing AI development, establishing ethical standards, and ensuring compliance with AI guidelines.

Rep. Acidre also referenced the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap launched in 2021 and its updated version, NAISR 2.0, which incorporates emerging technologies like generative AI. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive legal framework that ensures transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in AI use while fostering innovation.

Speakers answer questions during the Q&A session.

The webinar featured additional insights from other distinguished experts. Father Jesus Jay Miranda, Jr. from the University of Santo Tomas examined the ethical dimensions of AI from a Catholic perspective, emphasizing human dignity and moral responsibility. Sangay Thinley and Sarah Thang from EdTech Hub addressed the varying levels of AI adoption across Southeast Asia and the challenge of bridging the digital divide. Dr. Shitanshu Mishra from UNICEF MGIEP advocated for integrating ethics into AI governance frameworks and enhancing AI literacy among educators.

SEAMEO INNOTECH Centre Director Prof. Leonor Magtolis-Briones.

SEAMEO INNOTECH Centre Director Prof. Leonor Magtolis-Briones opened the session, highlighting the importance of addressing ethical issues in AI policy development. Ms. Hiyas Clamor-Torneo summarized the discussions, and Ms. Kochakorn Khattapan-Acidre concluded the event, reaffirming SEAMEO INNOTECH’s commitment to exploring AI in education.

This knowledge-sharing series sets the stage for the 16th SEAMEO INNOTECH International Conference, scheduled for 2025. The series aims to formulate a comprehensive statement on AI governance to guide future policy development.

SEAMEO INNOTECH remains dedicated to advancing AI governance in education and will continue collaborating with stakeholders to develop and implement effective AI policies that address ethical concerns and promote equitable educational opportunities.