DAP trains legislative staff on AI fundamentals for a future-ready Congress

IN PHOTO: Scholars of the CBILLS Emerging Leaders track pose with AI 101 resource persons;
[7th from Left] Mr. Sebastian Felipe Bundoc (DepEd-ECAIR), Ms. Emiline Acompañado (AI4GOV), Mr. Ray Daniel Peralta (DAP-CSF), and Engr. Aunhel John Adoptante (DOST-ASTI).

Tagaytay City, Philippines — The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) Program, implemented the final course for the Emerging Leaders track titled “AI 101: Course on AI Fundamentals for the Legislative,” from July 6 to 9, 2026, at the DAP Conference Center.

The course is designed to strengthen scholars’ technological literacy and readiness to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into legislative workflows, while surfacing responsible, ethical, and conscientious AI adoption.

Ms. Tayco (left) and Engr. Adoptante (right) help the scholars appreciate AI-enabled workplaces in the public sector.

Former House Committee Affairs Department Director Dr. Portia Silang discussed the evolving role of Congress in advancing national development amid a complex policy landscape, highlighting technology as both a challenge and an opportunity to improve service delivery. Meanwhile, AI4GOV Civic Technology Specialist Emiline Acompañado emphasized the need for hypervigilance in the adoption of AI during his discussion of its key concepts, capabilities, and applications. 

Discussing the practical applications of AI technology, Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) AI Engineering Lead Aunhel John Adoptante delved into various AI programs being developed ‘by the public sector for the public sector’ and shared practical tips on effective prompt writing for the scholars’ daily tasks. CirroLytix Research Services CEO and Chief Data Scientist Frances Claire Tayco then illustrated how AI can support Congressional mandates by presenting case studies.

The scholars then explored the opportunities and challenges of AI in government work, focusing on how to safely balance and maximize its benefits in professional practice, during the panel discussion moderated by Mr. Ray Daniel Peralta of DAP’s Center for Strategic Futures (CSF).

A snapshot of the panel discussion and open forum featuring Engr. Adoptante (DOST-ASTI),
Ms. Acompañado (AI4GOV), and Mr. Bundoc (DepEd-ECAIR).

Department of Education – Center for AI Research (DepEd-ECAIR) Senior Data Scientist Sebastian Felipe Bundoc concluded the course by examining the risks associated with the use of AI in policymaking and sharing practical strategies for human oversight and critical evaluation. 

By promoting responsible AI use in legislative work, the DAP, through the CBILLS Program, continues to contribute towards a more adaptive, innovative, evidence-informed, and future-ready Philippine Congress.