DILG-NCR advances Project AGSIKAP 2026, leverages Artificial Intelligence in Infrastructure Governance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center stage as the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) brought together Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) chiefs from various regions, NCR Local Government Units (LGUs), and experts in infrastructure and artificial intelligence for Project AGSIKAP 2026 on August 24, 2026, at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila and via Zoom Teleconference.

Marking a significant stride in public sector innovation, this year’s session engaged over 150 participants present both on-site and online, fostering a meaningful exchange of knowledge and ideas. The initiative provided a platform for collaboration and explored the potential of AI in enhancing project planning, monitoring, decision-making, and overall public sector governance.

DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez, CESO IV, formally commenced the session with a welcome message emphasizing the need for LGUs to adapt to technological advancements and harness AI responsibly to enhance public service delivery. She underscored that AI adoption should be anchored in ethical governance, accountability, and a people-centered approach, while encouraging collaboration and continuous learning among LGUs and partner institutions toward building future-ready, innovative, data-driven, and responsive local governments.“As we embrace the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence, let us also embrace the responsibility that comes with it,” ARD Baltazar-Cortez reminded, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with accountability in advancing local governance.

A message of support from DILG Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) Director Alfonso A. Maralli, Jr., CESO IV, underscored the need for a thoughtful and responsible approach to AI adoption in government, anchored on technological readiness, AI literacy, strategic planning, institutional willingness, and good governance. He reframed innovation as more than embracing the latest technology, but about finding smarter, more practical, and sustainable solutions to the everyday challenges of public service. He likewise called for a careful balance between innovation and accountability, ethics, privacy, quality, and human judgment. Ultimately, he urged participants to move beyond discussion and translate the insights gained from Project AGSIKAP into concrete, meaningful solutions that can make government more efficient, responsive, accountable, and future-ready.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Francisco R. Cruz, CESO III, delivered his keynote speech virtually, reflecting on the evolution of Project AGSIKAP from a project management initiative into a dynamic platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation among LGUs. He emphasized that as the governance landscape becomes increasingly complex and technology-driven, AI can offer new ways to strengthen efficiency, transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. Citing the country of Albania’s innovative use of an AI-generated digital minister to oversee public procurement, he illustrated how emerging technologies can be explored as potential tools for promoting impartiality and reducing opportunities for corruption. He encouraged participants to view technology not merely as a trend, but as a means to address persistent governance challenges and improve public service.

Setting the session’s direction and objectives, DILG-NCR Local Government Capability Development Division (LGCDD) Assistant Division Chief Dennis R. de Paz called on LGUs to move from AI awareness to AI readiness, focusing on practical applications, literacy, and responsible adoption. He highlighted Project AGSIKAP’s evolution from strengthening project management and monitoring competencies to equipping LGUs with emerging technologies and innovative approaches to governance, with AI serving as a practical tool for better monitoring, decision-making, and public service delivery.

Project AGSIKAP 2026 featured a comprehensive two-part program designed to equip local leaders with actionable strategies. The first part centered on expert insights regarding artificial intelligence integration. Prominent leaders and government experts tackled key themes surrounding the emerging role of artificial intelligence in local governance, infrastructure monitoring, and workforce literacy. The distinguished speakers included Director Diane Gail L. Maharjan of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Innovation Staff; Engr. Elwin Merc M. Serrano, DRRMO Information Technology Specialist of the Local Government Unit of Mandaluyong; Mr. Jay Carizo, Executive Director of the Galing Pook Foundation; Mr. Ray Daniel G. Peralta, Program Manager of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) ; and Ms. Kris R. Villanueva Libunao, Executive Director and Chief Sustainability Officer of SmartCT Inc.

The second part of the program featured a dynamic panel discussion facilitated by Ar. Michaela Rosette M. Santos-Tayag of the United Architects of the Philippines. The resource speakers engaged in an interactive dialogue exploring readiness and strategies for artificial intelligence adoption in digital governance, addressing real-world implementation challenges and public-sector readiness frameworks.

Closing this year’s Project AGSIKAP, Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) Chief Ronald R. Portales reminded delegates that AI is no longer a distant ambition, but a present opportunity to transform local administration. He emphasized that meaningful innovation is built on good governance, readiness, partnerships, and human judgment, not technology alone. The event concluded with a clear call to action for all participants to translate digital insights into concrete strategies, ensuring that technology directly results in more responsive and efficient public service.

Project AGSIKAP continues to stand as a reinvented capacity-building initiative designed to guide LGUs through the evolving landscape of modern governance. By championing smarter, more responsive, and future-ready infrastructure governance, the DILG-NCR continues to turn emerging technologies into powerful drivers of sustainable public development and effective, people-centered local leadership.