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DSPPP submits policy brief on AI governance to House of Representatives

Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano and Mr. Ram Christian Cua of the Data Science for Public Policy Program (DSPPP) of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS) attended the 2nd Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Development and Regulation Act on July 13, 2026, at the Speaker Nograles Hall, House of Representatives. The meeting was chaired by TWG Chairperson Rep. Javier Miguel Lopez Benitez.

Dr. Florano presented a policy brief based on the multi-stakeholder online forum “Shaping the Blueprint” conducted by the DSPPP, which was held on May 26, 2026. The forum gathered 120 online and 18 onsite participants from government agencies, industry, academe, and civil society, with perspectives captured through live polling across 14 questions .

Summary of the policy brief

The policy brief analyzed stakeholder sentiment on the substitute bill through 14 live Mentimeter poll questions, identifying key points of alignment and divergence.

Points of convergence:

    • Framework law architecture (82% consensus) – legislation should provide general principles with detailed rulemaking delegated to executive agencies
    • Right to explanation (86%) – minimum elements of a right to explanation must be explicitly defined
    • Four-tier risk classification (52%) – Prohibited, High-Risk, Limited-Risk, and Minimal-Risk
    • Graduated penalties (78%) and imprisonment as penalty (92%)
    • Hybrid funding mechanism (64%) – combining specific appropriations with General Appropriations Act funding

Points of divergence:

    • Institutional design – while 51% favored a Commission, attachment was split between DICT (39%), DOST (35%), and Office of the President (17%)
    • Preemption of local ordinances – tied 47%-47% between full preemption and hybrid approaches; the bill is silent on this issue
    • AI and criminal law – 40% favored hybrid treatment, 33% preferred aggravating circumstance
    • Registration scope – 57% wanted both companies and individual systems registered; the bill registers systems only

Recommendations

The brief recommended clarifying preemption of local AI ordinances, reconsidering institutional attachment, strengthening human oversight provisions, ensuring multi-year resourcing, and ongoing monitoring through the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.

For the details of the contents of the policy brief, please contact the DSPPP at [email protected].

Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano, representing the DSPPP of the UP-CIDS, attends the 2nd TWG meeting of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology on July 13, 2026.

 

Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano, representing the DSPPP of the UP-CIDS, attends the 2nd TWG meeting of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology on July 13, 2026.