Four local government units (LGUs) have developed artificial intelligence (AI) applications through a PLDT and Smart Communications program aimed at applying the technology to public services and government operations.
The projects, involving Baguio City, Cabanatuan City, Cebu City, and Lanao del Sur province, will be featured at the upcoming “AI in Action Forum: Empowering Smarter Governance for Digital-Ready LGUs.”
Potential uses the LGU projects include automating routine processes, improving access to public services, assisting with administrative work, and analyzing data to support local officials’ decisions.
Organized by PLDT and Smart, the forum will examine how projects developed through their AI-in-a-Box program can move from initial development and testing to operational systems that deliver measurable improvements in government services.
Discussions will cover LGU readiness, data infrastructure, governance frameworks, and the technical skills needed by government personnel. Data privacy, cybersecurity, AI governance, and digital sovereignty will also be addressed.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Science and Technology–Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) will provide perspectives on government AI adoption and the National AI Strategy of the Philippines.
ePLDT and IBM Philippines will discuss AI implementation and technology infrastructure, while the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) will participate in discussions on government efficiency and national development priorities.
The forum will also explore which applications can be sustained and expanded, and how LGUs, technology providers, academic institutions, and government agencies can support their implementation.
