Melvin Ryan  Fetalvero

Digital Bayanihan and the Age of AI: NPC Marks a Decade of Data Privacy at PAW 2026

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780038641883thumb.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Anamnesis: Looking Back and Moving Forward"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><strong><em>Anamnesis</em></strong>: Looking Back and Moving Forward. <em>Courtesy of NPC FB Page.</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) celebrated a historic milestone this year, marking its 10th anniversary during the 2026 Privacy Awareness Week (PAW). </p><p>The week-long event culminated in the 9th National Data Privacy Conference held at Okada Manila, centered on the theme &quot;Anamnesis: Looking Back and Moving Forward,&quot; with a specific focus on &quot;Digital Bayanihan: Nurturing Privacy Consciousness in the Age of AI&quot;.</p><div><strong>A Decade of Data Dignity</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780037076613708276229_1731521654871665_6100532752982244429_n.jpg" style="width:633px;display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Juan Paulo F. Fajardo "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Juan Paulo F. Fajardo. <em>Courtesy of NPC FB Page.</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>The conference opened with a reflection on the NPC’s journey since its establishment in 2016. Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Juan Paulo F. Fajardo explained that &quot;Anamnesis&quot; signifies recovering the past to find purpose in the present. He noted that over the last decade, the NPC has transitioned from building foundational awareness to managing complex digital identities.</p><p>&quot;10 years and we are only getting started... we built the regulatory foundations... we brought the conversation about privacy to barangays and boardrooms alike.&quot; — Atty. Juan Paulo F. Fajardo.</p><div><strong>The State of Enforcement and Education</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780037224976708882096_973468445694036_2432398986434273795_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Privacy Commissioner Atty. John Carlos S. Barcenna "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Privacy Commissioner Atty. Johann Carlos S. Barcena. <em>Courtesy of NPC FB Page</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Privacy Commissioner Atty. Johann Carlos S. Barcena delivered a comprehensive report detailing the commission’s recent achievements. Key highlights included the success of the &quot;Kabataang Digital&quot; youth program, which has reached over 24,318 young Filipinos since its launch.</p><p>On the enforcement front, the NPC has remained active through its &quot;ESPRINT&quot; task force, which received and closed 2,537 cases in the past year. The commission also conducted 2,390 compliance checks and issued 1,377 citation tickets, signaling a shift toward more visible, field-based regulatory presence.</p><div><strong>AI: Innovation Rooted in Trust</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780037317976709528597_1427425702749126_17570522159714048_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="DICT Secretary Henry Roel Aguda"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DICT Secretary Henry Roel Aguda. <em>Courtesy of NPC FB Page</em></span></span></span></div><p>A major focal point of PAW 2026 was the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). DICT Secretary Henry Roel Aguda emphasized that the success of the nation’s digital transformation hinges entirely on public trust.</p><p>&quot;Digitalization only succeeds if people feel safe, if people are protected... once trust is lost, progress slows down. That is why privacy protection is not separate from nation building. It is part of nation building.&quot; — DICT Secretary Henry Roel Aguda.</p><p>Panel discussions addressed the &quot;black box&quot; nature of AI and the risks of &quot;Shadow AI&quot;—the unauthorized use of AI tools within organizations. Industry leaders like Max Eddie of Google warned that failing to steward data safely is &quot;game over&quot; for tech companies. To mitigate these risks, Sarah Venturina of GCash shared their use of &quot;moral imagination workshops&quot; to identify unintended harms and biases before AI models are deployed.</p><div><strong>Protecting the Next Generation</strong></div><p>The &quot;Growing Up with AI&quot; panel focused on the urgent need for &quot;safety by design&quot; for children. Joshua Renee Jeyaraj of Roblox announced the introduction of age-banded accounts, such as &quot;Roblox Kids&quot; (ages 5-8), which feature restricted chat functionalities and curated content. On the Philosophy of Safety,  Bo Kim explained that TikTok&#x27;s mission to inspire creativity is only possible if they provide &quot;A platform where kids can feel safe and welcomed&quot;. Undersecretary Angelo Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) argued that while children have a right to digital inclusion, the state must ensure they are not &quot;processed as mere data points&quot;.</p><div><strong>Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Human Dignity in the Philippines</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780037395556710654081_1556451832662468_8974991915313204076_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Jose Amelito Bellarmino II "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Jose Sutton Bellarmino II. <em>Courtesy of NPC FB Page</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>As the Philippines moves forward, Atty. Diego Luis Santiago of the Department of Economy Planning and Development (DEPDev) revealed that a national AI Governance Framework is set for presentation to the National Innovation Council in June 2026. This framework aims to foster innovation through a principal-based regulatory approach rather than a &quot;one-size-fits-all&quot; law</p><p>&quot;Our role is to make sure that progress does not outpace our humanity.&quot;  -  Atty. Juan Paulo F. Fajardo. He reminded the audience that privacy is not a hindrance to innovation but its essential force. He called for the development of &quot;BuhAI&quot;—technology that promotes the dignity of human life.</p><p>In a stirring conclusion to the conference, Deputy Privacy Commissioner Atty. Jose Amelito Sutton Bellarmino II emphasized that &quot;informed choice is not a luxury. It is a right,&quot; reminding attendees that human accountability must remain central as AI evolves. He asserted that privacy is not a barrier to progress but rather the &quot;essential force that moves it forward,&quot; specifically calling for the humanization of technology through reason, ethics, and responsibility. Bellarmino introduced the &quot;TRUST&quot; framework—Transparency, Respect for dignity, Understanding technology, Sharing knowledge, and focusing on Tomorrow—as a roadmap for protecting the next generation within what he described as our new &quot;digital village&quot;. His final charge was a call to prioritize &quot;conscience over convenience&quot; and ensure that digital advancement never outpaces our humanity</p><div><strong>Related Video:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZyy5DSnk_4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The National Privacy Commission (NPC) celebrated a historic milestone this year, marking its 10th anniversary during the 2026 Privacy Awareness Week (PAW). </p>

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) celebrated a historic milestone this year, marking its 10th anniversary during the 2026 Privacy Awareness Week (PAW).

Digital Bayanihan in the Age of AI: NPC marks decade of data privacy at PAW 2026

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Digital Bayanihan in the Age of AI: NPC marks decade of data privacy at PAW 2026

Melvin Ryan Fetalvero,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 29, 2026 07:30 PM PHT

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NPC

National Privacy Commission

Privacy Awareness Week

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DICT

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