Mindanao is positioning itself at the forefront of people-centered artificial intelligence (AI), with a locally developed AI tool already supporting farmers in Malaybalay and emerging applications being prepared to strengthen public health response systems.
This direction took focus at the 11th Mindanao Policy Research Forum (MPRF) held on October 21, jointly organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and Bukidnon State University (BukSU).
With the theme “Harnessing AI in Mindanao: Pathways for People-Centered Governance,” the forum underscored that digital progress must be grounded in ethics, inclusion, and real-world benefits, especially for underserved communities.
Early applications of AI in agriculture and public health
BukSU Associate Professor Dr. Jovelin M. Lapates presented her AI-based tool for detecting corn crop diseases using the YOLO-V8 model.
The model—already adopted by the City of Malaybalay through a mobile application—allows farmers to identify crop diseases offline and receive real-time recommendations.
“When we give our farmers the knowledge and technology, we harvest not only crops but the future,” Lapates said.
In the health sector, BukSU Department Head Dr. Sales G. Aribe demonstrated how AI forecasting can support more predictive local health governance.
By using AI-based models to predict disease trends, local governments can allocate resources more efficiently, design preventive campaigns, and shift from reactive to proactive policymaking.
“If we are going to harness artificial intelligence, we can transform our governance from being reactive—always catching up—to being predictive and proactive, always staying ahead. This is the kind of governance that we envision for Mindanao,” Aribe said.
These early applications underscore that AI is no longer abstract in Mindanao but is beginning to shape frontline governance and service delivery.
AI’s opportunities and ethical challenges
PIDS Research Fellow Dr. Aubrey D. Tabuga explored AI’s transformative potential, describing it as a force “transforming everything, everywhere, all at once.”
She illustrated how AI has become embedded in everyday life—from personalized recommendations in entertainment apps to its growing role in sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, transportation, and education.
Tabuga explained that AI’s greatest promise lies in enhancing efficiency and problem-solving, enabling faster data collection and real-time analysis to support evidence-based policymaking.
“AI is only as good as the data that we feed it,” she cautioned, urging policymakers to remain vigilant about ethical challenges such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and overreliance on automated systems.
Ensuring innovation remains people-centered
BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol emphasized that innovation must remain rooted in human values.
“Being smart means being people-centered, ethical, and evidence-based,” she said, noting that BukSU’s vision of becoming a “smart university” aligns with Mindanao’s pursuit of resilient and inclusive digital development.
Echoing this, PIDS President Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño underscored that innovation matters only when it improves lives.
“The true measure of progress is not in the sophistication of our machines but in how much they help us serve our people better,” he said.
From a governance perspective, MinDA Policy Formulation Division Chief Adrian Tamayo, speaking on behalf of Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz, framed AI as both promise and responsibility.
“Artificial intelligence will only be as good as the human intelligence that guides it,” he emphasized.
He called for cultivating “a new culture of governance, one that embraces data, innovation, and foresight,” while noting that digital transformation can strengthen governance, improve connectivity, and build human capital—if longstanding gaps are addressed.
Tamayo warned that fragmented governance, limited connectivity, and uneven development remain barriers that must be confronted collectively to ensure inclusive AI adoption.
Building competence and ensuring access
As Mindanao advances AI adoption, speakers also highlighted the need to strengthen institutional capacity and digital access to ensure no sector is left behind.
Development Academy of the Philippines–Mindanao Vice President Dr. Mark Lemuel L. Garcia stressed the importance of defining AI competency expectations across government.
“Beyond training, there should be a clearer definition of AI competency expectations across the bureaucracy,” Garcia noted. He emphasized the need to strengthen local competencies and critical evaluation skills to ensure the responsible and context-sensitive use of AI.
Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali highlighted digital inclusion as a non-negotiable condition for equitable AI adoption.
“Connectivity is the gateway to participation,” he said, affirming that BARMM’s approach to AI will continue to be people-centered, ethically guided, and inclusive.
Toward a shared digital future for Mindanao
MinDA Chairperson and Secretary Leo Tereso Magno closed the forum by affirming that technological transformation in Mindanao must elevate, not bypass, communities.
“AI is not beyond the reach of Mindanaoans,” he said, emphasizing the region’s ingenuity and resilience.
He reiterated that digital progress must promote equity and meaningful change across the island.
The event ended with a shared commitment to advance AI systems that strengthen governance, amplify human capability, and reinforce democratic trust.
Watch the event recording at https://bit.ly/pidslive102125. ### — RTG
