Pasig City, Philippines, 13 August 2025—The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through the Center for Governance – Local Governance and Development Office (CFG-LGDO), in partnership with the Fulbright Commission, has officially opened the second batch of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) course for Local Government Units (LGUs) course.
The three-day program is designed to strengthen LGU leaders’ practical skills and strategic thinking in harnessing AI for improved service delivery. It also emphasizes the role of AI in fostering more meaningful citizen engagement, particularly through social media as a platform for community feedback, planning, and accountability.
Building on the success of the first batch held in July 2025, the course gathered 40 participants from 22 LGUs, including mayors, department heads, technical staff, and program managers. Notable attendees included Mayor Ace Jello C. Concepcion of Mariveles, Bataan; Sangguniang Bayan member Manuel P. Ambrocio of Limay, Bataan; DAP Vice President Imelda C. Caluen, DAP Director Jannis T. Montañez; and DAP Program Manager Michelle N. Belga, alongside other LGU key functionaries, DAP staff, and guests.
In her opening remarks, DAP Senior Vice President for programs, Magdalena L. Mendoza highlighted that AI is not just a high-concept, but a real-world tool to address everyday community challenges. She urged local leaders to ensure that as digital solutions are adopted, they remain responsive to public needs and grounded in the realities of the communities they serve.
Continuing its partnership with Fulbright Commission, the DAP once again welcomed Joshua Ness, whose expertise in AI was highly commended during the program’s inaugural run.
With the second batch now underway, the DAP continues to position LGUs as catalysts for grassroots innovation. Through this course, the DAP underscores its commitment to strengthening local governance by equipping local leaders to push boundaries, embrace change, and shape a data-driven, future-ready local governance.
