DOST-6 to Host Inaugural AI Festival in Iloilo City

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST-6) will host its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Festival on August 11 to 13 in Iloilo City, themed “Coding a Better Future: Responsible AI for Cities and Communities.”

The three-day event aims to humanize artificial intelligence and promote its ethical and responsible use.

The festival will feature four sub-events: an AI Hackathon, a national student innovation competition in partnership with UMWAD (Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spinoff Development); a Technical Conference led by the Regional Association of State Universities, which will explore emerging AI trends and applications; SineAI, a plenary session on AI in film with West Visayas State University; and Exhibits curated by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo Chapter, showcasing cutting-edge AI technology and fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government.

DOST-6 Regional Director Engineer Rowen Gelonga said the event is part of the agency’s AI Action Plan – the first of its kind at the regional level in the Philippines.

The action plan was launched last year through the Regional Research, Development and Innovation Committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC).

“We would like to really have this festival in order to highlight the critical importance of AI, not only in certain sectors, but in all dimensions of our personal and professional lives,” Gelonga said during a June 11 press briefing.

“AI is already part of our day-to-day lives, whether in offices or households,” he added.

“Like in any other technology, it has good and bad sides — it really depends on how we harness all of these technologies.”

Citing a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gelonga said around 30 percent of jobs in the Philippines are at high risk of AI disruption, especially in key sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), which plays a major role in Iloilo and Western Visayas.

“But with the right capabilities, AI can boost productivity instead of displacing workers,” he emphasized.

Gelonga also identified the creative industry as a priority area, stressing the importance of protecting original content and intellectual property.

“We don’t want creativity to be undermined,” he said.

“We must face this issue squarely and use AI ethically.”

Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Keithlyn Sarah Bernardino said the festival is part of efforts to position not just Iloilo but the entire Region VI as an emerging AI hub in the Philippines.

Organizers hope the festival will serve as a platform to connect innovation with responsible governance and inclusive development.

With increasing attention on the digital transformation of regions outside Metro Manila, DOST-6 aims to place Western Visayas at the forefront of AI readiness and policy advocacy in the country.