MESSAGE OF CHAIRPERSON KARLO A. B. NOGRALES
Public Consultation on the Proposed Principles and Guidelines for the
Ethical and Trustworthy Use of AI in the Philippine Government
29 April 2024

Good morning and thank you all for joining us today. It is heartening to see representatives from various government agencies gathered here for this Public Consultation on the Proposed Principles and Guidelines for Ethical and Trustworthy Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Philippine Government.

AI technologies such as ChatGPT, chatbots, virtual assistants, and predictive texts are increasingly prevalent in both public and private sectors globally, holding the promise of enhancing services, streamlining processes, and facilitating better decision-making. And yet we know that the use of AI presents numerous opportunities and challenges; and these advancements come with significant responsibilities. Needless to say, we must be highly conscious of the ethical implications of AI. Issues such as data privacy, bias, and cybersecurity become prominent if AI is not regulated effectively.

So today's event is not just a gathering; but rather a collaborative effort to ensure that AI technologies are developed and utilized ethically in the government sector, safeguarding the rights, privacy, and well-being of our citizens and stakeholders.

We are here to gather insights, feedback, and recommendations from a diverse array of agencies and stakeholders. The inputs we receive—from government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and industry experts—are invaluable. Inclusivity and transparency are crucial as we work towards developing guidelines that truly reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. Rest assured that your feedback will be carefully considered in finalizing these guidelines.

For the part of the CSC, we commit to take concrete actions to uphold these principles, providing guidance and support to agencies as they navigate the complexities of AI implementation through human resource reskilling and upskilling. Our commitment is to make the CSC’s Learning and Management System more comprehensive to cover and implement courses beneficial to public sector officials and employees.

While the DICT and the CSC have initiated outlining a framework with general guidelines, it is the responsibility of all agencies to create their own policies tailored to their unique needs and contexts. This involves establishing approval processes, defining data usage parameters, setting employee limitations, and outlining penalties for non-compliance.

In line with this, the CSC has consulted all its offices nationwide. We bring to this Consultation the results of this consultation. CSC validates the need for a policy that will raise awareness of the benefits and risks of AI, promote its proper and ethical use within our respective offices, and outline penalties for non-compliance with both the government’s overarching guidelines and internal policy.

Moving forward, we encourage agencies and stakeholders to continue engaging in the development and implementation of the principles and guidelines laid out today as they inform or enrich your own internal guidelines. Together, we can ensure that AI technologies serve the public interest and uphold ethical standards.

In conclusion, I want to express my profound gratitude to all participants for your time, insights, and contributions to this important dialogue. By working together, we can harness the transformative power of AI while safeguarding the rights and well-being of our citizens. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to ethical AI governance.