By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has introduced a bill proposing a specialized artificial intelligence (AI) training program for government personnel.
In filing the bill, Estrada emphasized the need to equip government employees with a clear understanding of how AI works, including its benefits and risks.
“The skills gap is one of the challenges facing the workforce, especially with the rise of generative AI. Government agencies must start training and enhancing the capabilities of civil servants in AI,” Estrada said.
In Senate Bill No. 2930, or the proposed “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training for Government Workforce Act,” Estrada noted that many companies worldwide have already integrated AI into their operations, while government agencies globally are working to understand AI’s impact on the public workforce.
“The debate around AI is everywhere — whether it truly helps people in their everyday lives or is simply a threat to the global workforce. AI has a lot of potential, from automating tasks to providing quick answers to complex questions,” he said.
Under SB 2930, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will formulate and lead an AI Training Program, covering AI fundamentals, its benefits for government operations, potential risks like discrimination and privacy issues, future AI trends (including national security and innovation concerns), and strategies for mitigating risks to ensure safe and trustworthy AI.
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