The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development and Advisory Council in the city, defining its functions and appropriating funds for the said purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, the council strives to help the city achieve its goal of transforming to a Smart and resilient highly urbanized city through AI management road map where sustainable progress and development can be attained through responsive and future-fit strategies leading to future-proof policies paired with innovative leadership.
Further, digital advancement is a must program by every local government like the city to be more responsive to the present and future needs of its constituents as it enhances efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in the public sector.
Among the overall purpose, functions and mandates of the council include to serve as advisory body on matters related to AI systems development, application, adoption and utilization; take the lead in policy recommendation related to AI like setting parameters under which AI may operate in the city; recommend regulatory framework like setting guidelines for AI systems reasonable and responsible adoption; set AI readiness program and road map aligned with the set strategy by the national government; determine clarion strategy for the local government to optimize the benefits of AI systems; serve as research and development arm of the local government in all AI-related matters; regularly conduct study and assessment on the impact of AI in the local government’s whole service ecosystem; assist in enabling the city residents through AI literacy and education program with the purpose of capacitating them on digital applications and technology systems related to AI; formulate programs intended for local AI talents and AI-driven and enabled institutions, engaging them on digital ways forward discussions but not limited to capacitating them on related laws on data privacy and protection, data theft, intellectual property theft, cybercrime and bill of rights in general; take the lead in promoting AI systems collaboration by forging partnership with other similar/or related councils or institutions for digital knowledge exchange and such other essential functions as may be deemed necessary.
The ordinance mandated the put up of the AI Development and Advisory Council that will be composed of representatives from the local government, academe, Philippine National Police (PNP), government line agencies, and from the enabled private sector, specifically AI leaders to guide, assist and accelerate the preparation of the city in adopting, incorporating and responsibly using AI systems and applications.
The council shall be composed of the local chief executive as chairperson with the representative from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) as vice chairperson. The members are representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), City Data Protection Officer-designate, City Public Information Officer, Management Information Technology Division, chairperson of the Committee on Education, City Planning and Development Coordinator, one representative from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), four representatives from higher education institutions; two representatives from the technical-vocational sector and two representatives from an organized AI local talent or professional groups.
