By Judelyn Kylle Bandoy, Training Coordinator
To improve digital innovation and make it easier for people to get public services, City College of Cagayan de Oro - Office for Lifelong Learning and Professional and PLDT/Smart collaborated for workers from the local government and the Provincial Capitol to have the "AI-in-a-Box" training course that focused on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) in local government in a responsible and useful way.
The full-day program made it clear how important digital transformation is becoming in the public sector. Ms. Judee Chaves, the Mindanao Relations Head of Smart Communications, Inc., started the event by telling everyone to use new technology in a responsible and forward-thinking way. She talked about how important AI will be in making government services more up-to-date and better.
Ms. Joie Cruz, the founder of Limitless Lab, led the technical learning sessions, which gave civil servants a deep look at Generative AI ideas that were made just for government institutions. The morning sessions covered both the practical uses and the risks that come with the technology, with a strong focus on using it in an ethical way.
"Prompt engineering" was a big part of the training. In this part, people learned that how well AI works is directly related to how clear and precise the instructions are. Talks also looked at how AI could be used to improve everyday government paperwork, which would save a lot of time when writing proposals, memos, and public notices.
The afternoon moved from theory to practice with hands-on workshops. Participants examined the incorporation of AI into policy and ordinance formulation, resulting in the creation of AI-powered chatbots. These no-code chatbot prototypes were made to get more people involved by handling public questions, speeding up the process of getting permits, and dealing with community issues.
During the workshop, staff mapped out how conversations would go, made their prototypes, and tested them against fake real-world situations to make sure they would work. The day ended with a demo pitch in which participants showed how their offices could use these AI solutions.
Even though the training was mostly about how quickly technology is changing, the main idea was still about putting people first in service.
“While AI is a useful tool in improving efficiency, it is important to maintain a human in the loop, as public service ultimately requires a human touch,” one participant noted during the synthesis session.
Ms. Mary Joy Meca-Villarin, the Assistant Department Head of the City Management Information System and Innovation Department (CMISID), officially ended the program by praising the staff for their enthusiasm and willingness to learn new technologies.
The AI-in-a-Box project ultimately equipped local leaders with cutting-edge skills, reinforcing the notion that while AI can enhance government operations, the core of public service remains empathy, accountability, and human connection.