2026 Laws Monitoring AI Use in the Philippines
The past year has seen significant legal and regulatory developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Philippines as the government, alongside its partners and stakeholders, acknowledges the need for a comprehensive approach to governance, innovation, and competitiveness.
E-Governance Act
The Philippines recently enacted the E-Governance Act, which recognizes the necessity of leveraging information and communications technology in delivering public services to drive national development. One of the Act’s primary objectives is to foster an informed and data-driven decision-making process for policymakers through the use of data analytics.
Among the e-government programs to be developed under this law is the Human Capital Management Information System (HCMIS). This system aims to automate HR-related functions in government, utilizing analytics to provide insights for strategic HR functions such as performance management, forecasting, and succession planning. The government is keen on harnessing the benefits of automation, with AI opening doors for increased investment and partnerships with the private sector.
National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0
In line with previous discussions on AI, one of the seven strategic imperatives under the country’s National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0) focuses on transforming education and nurturing future AI talent. Recently, the Department of Education issued its Foundational Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence in Basic Education. This framework aims for the responsible integration of AI in basic education based on the principle of safe innovation.
Framework of the Guidelines
The guideline’s framework is anchored on three interrelated areas:
- AI in Education: This emphasizes human oversight, clarifying that AI is a support tool and not a substitute for professional judgment, alongside a requirement for transparency in using AI.
- Education on AI: This focuses on developing digital literacy, critical thinking, and ethical awareness among educators and learners, enabling them to interact with AI tools safely.
- AI for Education Systems: This covers the application of AI to enhance governance, planning, monitoring, and school operations.
Under the last area, the Department requires potential vendors to agree not to train models on its data, acknowledging the importance of partnerships and multisectoral collaborations.
Risk-Proportionate Regulation
One principle underpinning the guidelines is risk-proportionate regulation. The Department categorizes AI applications by risk level, applying stricter controls to high-risk uses while promoting safe innovations for tools categorized as minimal or limited risk. Risk classifications are determined by the system’s purpose and context rather than the specific user.
Before implementing AI technologies, schools must undergo a Digital Maturity Assessment, and the AI system must be registered with the Department’s AI Registry.
Konektadong Pinoy Act
Another strategic imperative under NAISR 2.0 is establishing a robust, connected environment. In this context, the Philippines enacted the Konektadong Pinoy (Connected Filipino) Act.
This law recognizes the importance of digital inclusivity and aims to narrow the digital divide by pursuing an “open access” policy for all qualified data transmission industry participants (DTIPs). These include VoIP service providers, internet service providers (ISPs), and satellite system providers. Qualified DTIPs can establish or lease their networks without requiring a congressional franchise, thereby facilitating greater access and connectivity.
