West Visayas State University (WVSU) is co-hosting the three-day CHED Responding through AI for Societal Empowerment (RAISE) 2026 national summit, which opened Feb. 25 at the Iloilo Convention Center and brings together higher education leaders, policymakers, industry partners and students from across the country.
Mounted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) and WVSU, the summit centers on the theme “Empowering Minds, Transforming Communities through Responsible and Inclusive AI.” The gathering highlights how artificial intelligence can be integrated responsibly into teaching, learning and institutional governance.
For the WVSU community, the summit positions the University at the forefront of national conversations on AI policy, workforce readiness and innovation in higher education.
A key highlight of the opening plenary was the presentation of the National AI Upskilling Roadmap: Building a Competitive National AI Workforce, identified as a “Big Bet for the Future” under the National Education and Workforce Development Plan 2026–2028. Sherwin M. Pelayo, executive director of the Analytics Association of the Philippines, presented the roadmap and moderated a fireside chat on AI in basic education, higher education and lifelong learning.
The panel included CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis; CHED Undersecretary for Strategic Management Dr. Ronald Mendoza; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez; Private Sector Advisory Council Chairperson Alfredo Antonio Ayala; and Analytics Association of the Philippines President and Co-founder Michelle Alarcon. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between government and industry to ensure AI adoption in education remains responsible, inclusive and aligned with national development goals.
The opening program also featured the ceremonial turnover of the CHEDx 2024 Coffee Table Book and a digital ribbon-cutting of exhibition booths, followed by an exhibit tour and media briefing on CHED’s AI initiatives and policy directions for higher education institutions.
Participants later joined parallel breakout sessions tailored to administrators, faculty and students.
University leaders convened for a Presidents’ Forum titled “Crafting an AI Policy for Higher Education,” aimed at developing a cohesive framework for responsible AI integration across Philippine higher education institutions.
For educators and administrators, Asst. Prof. John Richard M. Esguerra of Batangas State University led a session on data science and cybersecurity, emphasizing data literacy and cyber resilience in academic institutions. Another session delivered by Mark Benlor Sy of National Teachers College explored AI-enabled learning design and delivery, focusing on integrating analytics and AI tools into curriculum development and assessment.
Students attended “Think Before You Prompt: A Framework for Responsible AI-Supported Learning,” delivered by Dr. Dave E. Marcial of Silliman University, which underscored the ethical and critical use of AI in academic work. A separate session by Dr. Ace Lagman of FEU Institute of Technology introduced core concepts and applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning.
The summit runs until Feb. 27, reinforcing WVSU’s role as an active partner in shaping national policy and practice on ethical and inclusive AI in education.
