Western Visayas forum brings together government, science, technology and academic leaders to advance responsible AI, digital governance and institutional readiness.
ILOILO CITY, October 20, 2026 — Local government units (LGUs) must strengthen their institutional capabilities, ethical safeguards and accountability mechanisms to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) delivers meaningful public benefits, former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue emphasized during the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VI Development Talk, or DevTalk, held on October 19.
Organized as part of the celebration of Local Government Month, the forum, themed “Generative Governance: Navigating Public Policy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” brought together resource speakers from national government agencies, regional institutions and academia to examine how emerging technologies are reshaping public administration, development planning and local governance.
In her presentation, “Designing Agile Policy: Lessons from the Western Visayas AI Governance Framework,” Batapa-Sigue highlighted the importance of translating the Western Visayas Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Policy 2025–2030 into practical governance systems that local governments can implement, evaluate and continuously improve.
“The framework is already here. The next task is institutional capability,” Batapa-Sigue said, emphasizing that agile AI governance requires fixed public values, risk-proportionate safeguards, clear human accountability and continuous institutional learning.
She proposed a six-step implementation approach for local governments: Align, Inventory, Classify, Assess, Authorize and Disclose, and Monitor and Learn. The process would help LGUs identify AI systems already in use, evaluate potential risks, introduce appropriate safeguards, establish responsible oversight and document their experiences for continuous policy improvement.
Batapa-Sigue also recommended baseline assessments to determine the AI governance competencies of LGUs, covering policy and ethics, data governance, risk assessment, cybersecurity, accountability, procurement and monitoring.
Government and Academic Experts Highlight AI Applications and Readiness
The forum featured John Christian D. Albances, Science Research Specialist II of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI, whose presentation addressed human-centric artificial intelligence in public administration. His session contributed to the broader discussion on placing people, public-service needs and institutional responsibility at the center of government AI adoption.
Eva Maria P. Marfil, EnP, Regional Director of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region VI, discussed digital transformation in development planning, including the PLANADO and PLANSMART initiatives. Her presentation highlighted the relevance of digital planning tools to strengthening local planning processes and supporting more informed public-sector decisions.
Representing the academic sector, Dr. Ma. Beth S. Concepcion, Dean of the College of Information and Communications Technology of West Visayas State University, addressed AI-related skills gaps and the development of a future-ready public-sector talent pipeline. Her contribution underscored the importance of institutional learning, workforce development and stronger connections between educational institutions and government.
The program also included John Lagos of DICT’s eGovernment initiatives, adding the national government’s digital transformation perspective to the discussions on modernizing public administration and improving government service delivery.
Together, the presentations reflected the interconnected requirements of successful AI adoption in government: sound policy, appropriate digital infrastructure, capable institutions, competent personnel and responsible implementation.
Building a Regional Community of Practice
Beyond technology deployment, Batapa-Sigue called for stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration and systematic knowledge-sharing among local governments, regional agencies, academic institutions, industry and civil society.
She proposed that DILG’s DevTalk initiative evolve into a recurring regional public-service learning platform where participating institutions can share AI applications, governance challenges, safeguards, implementation experiences and measurable improvements in service delivery.
Such a platform, she explained, could encourage greater policy coherence while allowing local governments to adapt processes to their respective institutional capacities and community needs.
Batapa-Sigue also recommended developing measurable regional indicators covering AI governance mechanisms, ethical impact assessments, personnel training, grievance procedures, public disclosure and stakeholder engagement.
“If DILG VI can cascade that operating discipline across Region VI, Western Visayas will not only have an AI policy. We will have a regional governance capability,” she said.
DILG Advances Knowledge-Based Local Governance
The DevTalk initiative forms part of DILG Region VI’s broader efforts to strengthen knowledge management, multi-stakeholder convergence and institutional learning in local governance.
The regional office is headed by Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero, CESO III, alongside Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza J. Sardua, CESO IV.
Through discussions involving policymakers, technology practitioners, planning institutions and academic leaders, the forum provided an opportunity to connect emerging AI governance principles with practical requirements for local public administration.
The discussions also emphasized that responsible digital transformation requires coordination among institutions rather than isolated technology projects.
For Batapa-Sigue, who has long advocated countryside digital development and innovation ecosystems, the transition toward AI-enabled governance presents an opportunity for local governments to move beyond technology consumption and become capable institutions that use innovation to address real community challenges.
She emphasized that the long-term success of regional AI governance will depend not merely on the number of policies adopted or technologies deployed, but on whether local institutions can protect public trust, strengthen accountability and demonstrate meaningful improvements in government services.
The October 19 forum reinforced the importance of connecting policy, technology, talent development and institutional collaboration as Western Visayas works toward a more inclusive, responsible and future-ready system of local governance.
