Philippines adopts national AI governance framework and creates National AI Council

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 131 on November 12, adopting an AI Governance Framework for the Philippines and creating a National Artificial Intelligence Council to oversee it, Rappler reports. The order makes the framework the country's "national strategic guide for policy formulation, regulatory coordination, institutional development, capacity-building, and other governance measures" for AI.

The council, an inter-agency body of the Philippine government, is chaired by the executive secretary, with the secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development as vice chair, and includes a private sector representative appointed by the President for a three-year term. It must report on implementation within 30 days of the end of each quarter and review the framework at least once every two years.

The framework has four parts: ethics and principles, standards and assurance, a risk-based policy toolkit, and enabling resources. It says AI governance measures should be "proportionate to the nature, context, and level of risk," and may include sector-specific guidelines, AI impact assessments, regulatory sandboxes and complaint mechanisms. The order takes effect on publication. Rappler notes that Congress has been weighing about 40 House bills and 7 Senate bills on AI.