AI for better public service:
More than 40 public servants from the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental recently enhanced their digital capabilities through a hands-on AI training workshop designed to strengthen public service delivery, organized by PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).
Part of PLDT and Smart’s AI in a Box digital empowerment initiative, the activity was supported by the PLDT-Smart Foundation, PLDT Enterprise, and the Lifelong Learning and Professional Development Office of the City College of Cagayan de Oro.
“We are thankful for the full support of our partners and active participation of the local governments of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental. Through initiatives like this, we aim to advance digital inclusion by equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to thrive in an AI-enabled future,” shared Smart Mindanao Relations Head Judee Chaves.
Participants from CDO and MisOr LGUs take part in hands-on AI and Generative AI training, learning prompt engineering, AI-assisted writing, and chatbot development to improve efficiency and citizen-centered public service.
Participants from various LGU offices—including human resources, information technology, and health—gained hands-on experience in Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI through a session facilitated by Limitless Lab. They learned practical applications such as prompt engineering, AI-assisted writing for policy and citizen communications, and designing LGU chatbots to streamline processes and improve citizen engagement.
Louie Gie Lusdoc, Administrative Officer from the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, said, “AI tools can significantly improve efficiency in drafting reports, creating presentations, and organizing data, allowing public servants to focus more on strategic and people-centered functions. By streamlining inquiries and supporting data-driven decision-making, AI helps deliver more responsive government services to the community.”
“Thank you for this meaningful activity that empowers the public servants of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental as we begin embracing the future with AI. May what we learned from this workshop inspire us to use AI to make our work more efficient while always keeping humans at the center of public service,” said Mary Joy Meca-Villarin, Assistant Department Head of the City Management Information System and Innovation Department.
This initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, promoting the adoption of innovative technologies to strengthen public institutions and enable smarter, more resilient communities. [END]
