DOST-6 unveils bigger 2026 AI Fest with nine sub-events

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Department of Science and Technology-Western Visayas (DOST-6) launched the second edition of its Artificial Intelligence Fest on Tuesday, May 13, vowing to expand the regional conversation on AI use, ethics, and adoption.

This year’s edition runs Aug. 3-5 and aims to promote the practical, ethical, and collaborative use of AI across governance, industry, education, research, and the creative sector.

Carrying the theme “Building an AI-Ready Future, Together,” the festival aims to engage participants nationwide and foster stronger collaboration among government, academe, industry, and innovation communities.

Major activities include the AI Technical Conference, AI Hackathon, Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) Iloilo – AI Expo, SineAI, AI Game On!, AI in Motion, AI Speaks, AI Connect, and AI Policy Lab.

DOST-6 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Keithlyn Sarah Bernardino said the 2026 edition will be marked by deeper partnerships and a larger program, with the sub-event roster more than doubling from the inaugural year.

“We expanded our partnerships [and] other than that, from four sub-events, we have nine sub-events this year, so it will be jam-packed,” Bernardino said.

Concepcion cited the conduct of SineAI Talks last year, with speakers from the local and international film and animation sectors exploring the challenges, opportunities, and ethical use of AI in film.

“For this year, we already consulted our local counterparts, our filmmakers, so that our theme would align with cultural preservation also. We need the insights of our local industry and partners,” Concepcion said.

Ira Pahila, senior economic development specialist of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)-Region 6 and DOST-6’s partner for the AI Policy Lab, said the activity would focus on the inclusive and ethical use of AI in the region.

“We want to invite PWDs, senior citizens, [and] Indigenous Peoples, if possible, because as planners and as people in policy formulation, it is our task to bridge the digital divide,” Pahila said.

“So, as we move forward with advancing AI technologies in the region, we also need to look back, who is it, who are left behind? So, our approach is, we will be to try to be as inclusive as possible,” she added.

“As we try to nurture talent in terms of AI, sometimes we forget [that] there are people who are victimized online or become the prey of AI. If we are able to bridge the gap through this [AI] Policy Lab, then we could create a more equal, more level playing field in terms of AI,” she said.

DOST-6 Regional Director Rowen Gelonga cited the launch of the country’s first AI Governance and Ethics Policy, developed by the Regional Development Council-6, as a highlight of last year’s edition.

“Essentially, [the AI Governance and Ethics Policy is] sending a very strong message, before going into AI human capital development, [and] before we even go into full-blast research and development as well as deployment of AI [technology], all of these activities should be anchored on a governance and ethics policy to ensure that we really use, ethically and responsibly, AI,” Gelonga said.

Bernardino added that some of the teams that competed in last year’s AI Hackathon have since formed their own startups, now incubated under Technology Business Incubators (TBI) hosted by regional universities.

Reyjand Gellamucho of the Kwadra TBI at Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) and chair of the AI Hackathon said the top three teams from the 2025 hackathon are now incubated with the WVSU Binhi TBI.

The inaugural AI Fest in 2025 served as the launch platform for the AI Governance and Ethics Policy and helped position Western Visayas as one of the country’s emerging AI hubs.