With focus on integration, utilization, and benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in building more resilient, effective, and sustainable local government units, the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) in partnership with the Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Singapore (J.CLAIR Singapore) organized a hybrid seminar entitled “Harnessing AI and Innovations for Efficiency and Sustainability in Local Governance” last October 22, 2024.
The event, held in CPAf Rooms 303-304 and also streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live, brought together practitioners, leaders, students, faculty, research and extension personnel with similar goals and interests in integrating AI in the Philippines’ local governance system.
In her opening message, Dean Aileen V. Lapitan, noted that the seminar aims to “spark discussions, share experiences, and learn from each other’s expertise”. She also emphasized to “keep in mind the critical balance between adopting these new tools and ensuring they are used to benefit all members of the society”.
AI in Japan’s Local Governance System
Mr. Koki Fukuyama, Deputy Director, kicked off the discussion by talking about the AI Utilization in Kagoshima Prefecture. Mr. Fukuyama, in response to the observed inefficiencies in work processes, utilized and promoted the ability of AI to reduce time-consuming tasks through the Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) Promotion Project in 2022. This project highlighted the use of AI Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and electronic application systems in significantly reducing the time and manual labor needed to complete a task.
The next discussion led by Mr. Yuki Tsuji, Deputy Director, featured the AI Initiatives of the Saitama Prefectural Government which centered on the use of AI for citizens and administrative work. The AI for citizens consisted of AI chatbot projects such as the Saitama AI Emergency Consultation Service and the Saitama Concierge which offers health consultation and handles government related inquiries, respectively. AI utilization for administrative work, on the other hand, highlighted the use of ChatGPT to correct grammar and improve sentences used for press releases. The use of AI software “AmiVoice,” another AI software is likewise used for documentation, particularly in automatically creating “minutes of the meeting.”
Ms. Yoshimi Ueda, Deputy Director, shared the Applications of ICT and AI technologies. In Uozu City, ICT and AI is being used to improve administrative operations and services through the utilization of ChatGPT for inquiries, LINE for receiving certificates and documents, AI software for minutes making, and online banking services.
Management innovations in Japan’s Local Governance System
A case study on Ichiko-Kushikino City regarding the involvement of non-state actors in the city’s planning process was presented by Ms. Mihoko Najima, Deputy Director. Ms. Najima’s discussion centered on the city’s issues of employment industry, child-birth and rearing, elderly people’s health and well-being, and the region’s immigration and settlement. With the help of non-state actors, proposed solutions such as establishment of a system for renting out vacant public housing to private companies, establishment of in-school support centers, projects to promote children-safe spaces, web promotion projects, and settlement promotion subsidy review, were formulated.
Lastly, Ms. Miho Kabe, Deputy Director, discussed the Resilience Value of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Contextualized within the Tsumagoi Village, Gunma Prefecture, these PPPs address the village’s critical local challenges, including population decline, reduced manpower, decreased public transport ridership, and an increasing vacancy rate in housing units. The PPP initiatives they’ve engaged with led to fruitful programs, such as raising awareness of the village’s primary product, cabbages, through recipe dissemination, the Tsumagoi Marche held every fall to attract tourists, and Snow Sports Day, which is designed to highlight the village’s beauty to younger residents and reduce population turnover.
Mindful Usage of AI in Local Governance
Despite the aforementioned advantages of using AI for local governance, the speakers continued to note the importance of not relying solely on AI and supervising as well as manually cross-checking all the information before public discretion because AI alone does not perform as well as its human counterparts. They also emphasized that AI is for assistance and should not entirely replace the role of human workers.
The strong standing collaboration between CPAf and J.CLAIR Singapore started in 2017 and continued to persist through the COVID-19 pandemic, to this day. “Since then, it has made a valuable exchange between us and promising students of the Philippines… we hope to continue this cooperative relationship in the future.” said Deputy Executive Director of J.CLAIR Singapore, Mr. Hiroyuki Tokuda.
Edited by: Charlene V. Mina
Alexis Juriel L. Santillan
