TESDA chief lauds first LGU-led AI Institute in Albay

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, has lauded proponents of the Albay Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI4AI) in Polangui, calling it the country's first local government unit (LGU)-led permanent learning center and micro-credential program for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Benitez specifically praised Albay 3rd District Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda for conceiving and spearheading the project.

“You are fortunate, people of the Third District of Albay. You have a congressman who takes the lead to promote skills development and education,” Benitez said in an online message during a recent training on the "Effective and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence" micro-credential program.

The training event, organized by TESDA Albay with content designed by the AI4AI staff, was attended online by 344 participants from across the province.

Established by Polangui Municipal Ordinance No. 69, the AI4AI facility sits on land donated by former Albay congressman Joey Salceda, the lawmaker’s uncle.

During the facility's launch in October, Benitez stressed the necessity of responsible and ethical AI use and commended Albay for the initiative.

Rep. Salceda explained that AI4AI's program is not centered on typical AI courses like essay writing or media creation. Instead, the focus is on designing simple and advanced tools with real-world utility, such as accounting utilities and file converters, using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and JavaScript.

“The true revolution of AI lies in natural language processing, which is its real breakthrough. You can work by just talking to computers,” Rep. Salceda said, emphasizing that programming is no longer limited to coders as human language itself is becoming the code.

AI4AI has already developed practical tools, including a chat-based tutor for Alternative Learning System students who can access and study modules via Facebook Messenger. The center also instructs learners on designing basic, everyday tools.

For those with advanced skills, AI4AI and the Bicol University Polangui campus are finalizing a partnership to train computer science majors in designing AI-powered solutions, including prototyping and creating AI-enhanced applications for community needs.

In Congress, the younger Salceda has filed House Bill No. 170, which seeks to position Albay as a regional hub for AI education and workforce development. The bill urges TESDA to provide full support for the establishment of an "AI Readiness Institute," also located in Polangui, to prepare the Philippine workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.