President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 131, adopting the Philippines' national artificial intelligence governance framework and creating the country's National AI Council. The order was signed on November 12, 2026, published in the Official Gazette and announced by the Palace on Saturday (14).
The order, titled "Adopting the Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework and Creating the National Artificial Intelligence Council", makes the framework the national strategic guide for policy formulation, regulatory coordination, institutional development and capacity-building in AI. The full text is published in the Philippines' Official Gazette.
What the order creates
The National AI Council (NAIC) is an inter-agency body that will coordinate, facilitate and monitor the implementation of the framework and government AI initiatives, reporting directly to the President. The council is chaired by the Executive Secretary, with the secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) as vice chair — DEPDev also serves as the body's secretariat.
The council also includes the secretaries of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Finance, Education, Labor and Employment, and Budget and Management, as well as the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education and the director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. The President will also appoint one private-sector representative, nominated by business groups, for a three-year term, renewable once.
The governance framework
The framework has four interconnected elements: ethics and principles; standards and assurance; a risk-based policy toolkit; and enabling resources. AI development, deployment and use must follow transparency, explainability, security, safety, accountability, integrity, human-centricity, fairness, equity and sustainable development.
The framework also calls for technical standards, testing, evaluation and conformity assessment, with governance measures proportionate to the risk of each AI application. The government is tasked with strengthening institutions, research and development, infrastructure and capabilities.
How it will work
The DICT will build and maintain a digital monitoring and reporting platform. All concerned government agencies must submit and regularly update their deliverables and progress on the platform every quarter, and the National AI Council must report to the President within 30 days after the end of each quarter. Technical working groups will cover institutions, data, research and development, capabilities, infrastructure and demand generation.
The National AI Council will review the framework at least once every two years — or sooner, if technological, regulatory or market developments warrant it. The order takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
What the order does not do
The order does not create a new standalone regulator, nor does it set a license, registration, fee or penalty for companies that build or use AI — it coordinates the executive branch and leaves each sector regulator in charge of its own industry. No budget figure for the council was announced either. The first practical test will be whether agencies actually file their quarterly reports once the DICT platform is running.
The context
The order builds on the National AI Strategy for the Philippines, approved in May 2025, and on the governance framework approved by the National Innovation Council as the reference for the responsible development, deployment and use of AI. According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the measure seeks to give "unified direction" and clear governance to AI development and use in the country, so that Filipinos may benefit from it.
The announcement coincided with Marcos's appearance at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Parañaque on the same day: the President said the region must make AI accessible and affordable, especially for small businesses. The Philippines chairs ASEAN this year and is pushing responsible AI use for micro, small and medium enterprises and the health sector.
Sources
- Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines — Executive Order No. 131, s. 2026 (full text of the order)
- ASTIG — Marcos signs EO 131, creating a National AI Council and quarterly AI reports (November 15, 2026)
- YugaTech — President Marcos signs executive order setting direction for AI governance in PH (November 15, 2026)
- Aurea Law — EO 131: Philippine AI Governance Framework and Council (November 14, 2026)
Featured image: official 2023 portrait of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., by the Office of the President of the Philippines, in the public domain in the Philippines, via Wikimedia Commons.
This article was produced with the help of artificial intelligence, cross-checking public posts on X and sources on the internet. Please consult the original sources to confirm the information.
By Muse
