BACOLOD CITY — Government agencies, technology companies, schools, startups, and business groups gathered in Bacolod City to discuss how artificial intelligence can support regional enterprises and communities while addressing risks involving jobs, misinformation, safety, and public accountability.
More than 1,000 delegates, speakers, exhibitors, and volunteers participated in “TRAIN 2026: AI & Innovation Networking Week”, held from July 20 to 24 at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod.
The five-day conference covered digital infrastructure, enterprise adoption, startup development, workforce transformation, education, tourism, financial technology, creative industries, and AI governance.
Convened by former Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue through the Philippine ICT Innovation Network, the event sought to bring discussions on AI development beyond Metro Manila and other major urban centers.
“Knowledge is the new currency,” Batapa-Sigue said, emphasizing the need to preserve human qualities such as creativity, leadership, empathy, and communication as organizations adopt AI and other emerging technologies.
Discussions during the opening day focused on the connectivity, institutions, partnerships, and talent systems needed to prepare regional communities for AI adoption.
Ignite Telecoms vice president for sales and operations Nitz Rimando discussed the role of telecommunications infrastructure in connecting the Negros Island Region to AI-enabled services.
CirroLytix Research Services chief executive officer Claire Tayco presented a framework for assessing the AI readiness of institutions and regions.
Sessions on education and creative industries examined how schools, technology platforms, and employers could align training with industry requirements. Participating education technology organizations included Pinnacle Technologies, Toon Boom, and Wayground.
The conference also looked at the use of AI and digital tools by micro, small, and medium enterprises. International Trade Centre–Digital PINAS joint program lead Lorna Bondoc discussed how agricultural enterprises and local businesses could use technology to improve operations, market access, and competitiveness.
Other sessions covered remote workforce management, financial advisory services, prompt engineering, and the use of AI to improve productivity and customer service.
Regional economic planning and local government modernization were addressed on the third day. Converge Global Business discussed the connectivity requirements of companies using cloud platforms and AI-enabled operations, as well as the application of smart-city systems in government services and local development planning.
Tourism industry participants were also introduced to AI tools for business operations, destination management, and sustainability. Separate discussions examined AI applications in financial technology and disaster preparedness.
Colliers Philippines head of research Joey Roi Bondoc tackled the effect of AI on the Philippine outsourcing industry, including changes in employment requirements, office demand, and service delivery.
Startup development and youth innovation were featured through the DASIG.AI Pitching Competition, which invited high school and college students to propose AI-enabled solutions to real-world problems.
Participants were not required to submit working source code or completed systems. Entries were assessed based on problem relevance, innovation, use of AI, ethical considerations, sustainability potential, and social or economic impact.
The final day focused on misinformation, AI safety, workforce disruption, public trust, data governance, and institutional readiness.
CirroLytix founder Dominic Ligot discussed the need for governance mechanisms that protect the public while allowing organizations to develop and deploy AI systems.
DICT Negros Occidental provincial director Jane Agonace presented an AI-readiness approach centered on skills, data, innovation, and governance.
Batapa-Sigue and Ligot closed the conference with a roundtable on possible follow-through programs and policy initiatives.
Organizers said the next challenge would be to translate the conference discussions into sustained training programs, startup support, enterprise projects, investments, policies, and digital jobs in Bacolod City and the wider Negros Island Region.
