14/08/2026
The UST-AMV College of Accountancy congratulates our alumnus, Mr. John Derick D. De Recto, MBA, MSDT, CMA, CSCA, CPHR on his appointment as Program Director of the Albay Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
CONGRATULATIONS, President DE RECTO!
The UST-AMV Accountancy Alumni Association, Inc. congratulates our President, John Derick D. De Recto, MBA, MSDT, (U.S.) CMA, (U.S.) CSCA, CPHR, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Batch 2019, on his appointment as Program Director of the Albay Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the first local government-led artificial intelligence institute in the Philippines.
The appointment places a Thomasian accountant at the helm of a genuinely historic undertaking. No local government in the country has built an institution of this kind before, and its creation through a municipal ordinance sets a precedent other LGUs are expected to follow. That a Thomasian accountant helps lead it speaks to what our College has always aimed to form: professionals whose competence extends beyond the profession and into the service of communities.
To our President, congratulations. The Association is proud to see Thomasian values carried into this work.
Mabuhay!
The Albay Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI4AI) is the Philippines' first local government-driven, LGU-led artificial intelligence institute. Officially inaugurated on October 27, 2025, in Polangui, Albay, this pioneering facility bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and community empowerment. Driven by a historic local municipal ordinance and supported by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), AI4AI equips students, entrepreneurs, and local virtual assistants with vital AI literacy, prompt engineering, and ethical tech skills. By integrating AI into local government services, agriculture, and public safety, the institute serves as a transformative blueprint for localized, inclusive technological innovation across the nation.