- 5 months ago
How can local government units use and benefit from AI? Watch our discussion with Roby Alampay, Group Head, Public Engagement and Corporate Communications of PLDT and Smart
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
01:30Yeah, this afternoon, we are privileged to have with us Mr. Roby Alampay.
01:35Siya ang group heads, public engagement and corporate communication sa PLDT Smart.
01:40And it's, I find the topic actually very interesting, especially now that a lot of people are talking about technology and artificial intelligence.
01:50Ah, si Roby is from Manila, so let's avoid our…
01:56I know, I know.
01:58Okay, I forgot.
02:00I apologize.
02:01Yes.
02:02No, no.
02:02So, especially now that people, walang bukang bibig kundi AI.
02:07AI, yeah.
02:08Ah, AI diyan.
02:09Ay, AI yan.
02:10So, the question is, is AI good or bad?
02:13Diba?
02:13So, maybe that's our discussion.
02:17But, Sir Roby is here for one thing.
02:21They have smart, have what they call the AI in a box.
02:25Wow.
02:25What's inside the box?
02:27Yes.
02:27What's inside the box?
02:29So, can you tell us more about the AI in a box, Sir Roby?
02:32Okay.
02:33Una-una, Mildred, DJ, Mayang Hapon.
02:35Dagang salamat.
02:36Nana, Shay, Mayang Hapon.
02:38One point.
02:40Two na yun.
02:41Dagmay dagang salamat pa.
02:42Yes.
02:43So, two points.
02:45Thank you for having me.
02:48Yeah, AI in a box, actually matagal na naman.
02:52You know, PLDT being a telco, we've always known that technology napakahalaga sa mission natin to connect our people, to connect our country.
03:06And so, for the longest time, we've had a lot of these things.
03:09We've had, you know, school in a bag.
03:12Yeah.
03:12We've had kits.
03:14Disaster kits.
03:14Yeah, we've had disaster kits.
03:16And all of these things literally come in two components.
03:21You have, or three components.
03:23You have, you have the hardware.
03:25No?
03:25Literally, bag yan.
03:27Yes.
03:27Yung school in a bag, for example, malaking bag yan na kailangan ng roller.
03:32No?
03:32And, so, and then sa loob nun may hardware.
03:35May mga laptop, may mga pocket Wi-Fi, and so on.
03:39And then the second component is software.
03:42So, meron na rin doon mga programs na pwedeng gamitin.
03:47And then the third component is training.
03:49Yes.
03:50So, hindi lang iniiwan.
03:52So, itong AI in a Box is just the latest permutation of that.
03:56You can still look at this in the end as a package of things that PLDT Smart believes
04:02can help to empower our partners, our stakeholders, our citizens.
04:08But AI in a Box in particular, this is something that we have put together specifically for LGUs.
04:16Why LGUs?
04:18Well, only because partner na naman lang matagal ng PLDT ang mga LGUs.
04:26Or, to be more accurate, PLDT ang PLDT ang SMART has long been a partner of the LGUs.
04:31In everything from disaster risk management, to engaging with citizens, to information, fighting disinformation.
04:41Yes.
04:42And even empowering media, and so on.
04:47It's always been there.
04:48But yung AI in particular, specifically for LGUs, we just feel that there's something, there's some ideas really empowering.
04:58We conducted a survey with LGUs.
05:01We asked them, among other things, ginagamit na ba nila ang AI?
05:07How are they using it?
05:08Malami.
05:09I mean, if you ask, I think it was a very quick, informal survey.
05:14Not the most scientific.
05:15But among, you know, literally hundreds of LGUs that we work with, we just blasted a quick questionnaire.
05:23And then we asked precisely yung tanong mo, Mildred, paano ba nila ginagamit?
05:28So, gaya natin, gaya ng mga anak nyo, ginagamit na nilang ang AI for, you know, crafting letters, editing documents, they're using it for research.
05:42They're also using it, they're trying to figure out how can we use this for disaster risk management.
05:48They're trying to figure out how can we use this to improve our engagement with citizens.
05:55Tapos yung proseses na lahat tayo.
05:58Are grappling with the red tape.
06:00How could we, how could we minimize the red tape.
06:03And then there are also some ideas out there na actually hindi pa na, like for example, how can they tap funds?
06:13How can they apply for grants?
06:15Yes.
06:16Kailangan mo na ng certain expertise.
06:20It's when you draft or you craft proposals for funding, yung grants.
06:26Pero kung yung proposals mo, if you're not familiar, like what happened to an ordinance in Cebu City, it was a proposed in ordinance.
06:33I don't know if it was a mistake or what, but it, talagang dumating siya dun sa, sa session hall.
06:39The proposing for the construction of a two-seater toilet.
06:44Okay.
06:45Okay.
06:45So, you know.
06:48Ano ibig sabihin niya ng two-seater toilet?
06:49Ewan ko.
06:50At first, everybody was like, ano yun, magkatabi?
06:52Hindi pala.
06:53Ibig sabihin niya, ni Clilarify naman.
06:55Para parang, there was a, yun nga.
06:58One set each.
06:59One set each.
07:00It's two sets of toilets.
07:02So, maybe with AI, those kind of things can already be avoided.
07:08Diba?
07:08Tsaka, I'm not sure if how AI can also help because parang every year, every set of councils, mayroon silang mga ordinances.
07:19We actually don't know if this ordinance is a repeat already of previous ordinance.
07:25Walang palang, walang, there's no digital record of, I hope AI can help that.
07:31Because kahit kami nagko-cover ng local governments, it's also grappling for that kind of...
07:36Ang isang basic premise kasi ng AI is you get to really maximize it if you have access to or in fact, if you're already sitting on a lot of data.
07:47Yes.
07:48And by data, it's not magic.
07:50Diba?
07:50Parang, if you have documents, diba?
07:53Lahat naman tayo, it starts off with word documents, you're nasa computer.
07:57It means you have data.
07:59And ordinances are already there.
08:03Hindi pa siya naka-database.
08:05Yes.
08:06But now, AI allows you to skip that.
08:08Yes.
08:08Diba?
08:08It now allows you to organize and to audit and to have an accounting.
08:13Precisely, for example, doon sa tanong mo, ilang ordinansya na ba yung nasulat na ganito?
08:17Meron na bang batas or ordinansya na similar dito?
08:21AI can help in all of that.
08:23As long as they are in a digital form.
08:26Yes.
08:27Yes.
08:27Yes.
08:28And there are already technology that makes it easy for us na scan mo, then PDF yung formats.
08:33And I'm sure there are already, like sa Cebu City Hall, for example, they give, yung agenda is already in a digital format.
08:41So, they give that out to reporters.
08:44So, for example, there is an ordinance attached.
08:47Merong attachment talaga.
08:48So, if we can have those digital documents sorted, parang, parang local government library.
08:55Kasi if you go to the LGU and ask, do we have an ordinance on smoking?
09:01No one really looks for them.
09:02Smoking.
09:03So, parang, I'm really, I'm not sure how these things are organized.
09:08I think they are physical archives pa, at the moment.
09:10So, paglabas mo, magka-sipon-sipon ka pa.
09:13So, I'm sure this will really going to be a big help for the LGU.
09:17In fact, DJ, the first question that I think, I'm not an expert, I'm not an expert, notwithstanding us wanting to put this.
09:24But, I am a user.
09:27And, sa experience ko, the first question that you should ask is, doesn't even have to be as specific as, ilan na ba ang ordinance natin tungkol dito?
09:35Or, ilan na ba ang nagawa natin tungkol dito?
09:39The only, the first question you should ask is, ano bang data meron tayo?
09:44Ano bang mga dokumento, ano bang mga dokumento may access tayo na, hindi ka na kailangan magpaalam, nandito na yan,
09:50we might as well literally upload it sa AI.
09:56That's the first thing.
09:57Kasi, once ma-upload mo lahat yun, then you can start asking questions.
10:02It's not like you ask questions first, and then nakahanapin mo, then i-upload mo.
10:06Hindi, yung buong bodega mo, i-upload mo na yung buong bodega mo, tapos tsaka ka mag-tanong.
10:12And it's supposed to be available for the public, di ba?
10:16Because that's the purpose of the communication.
10:19At the ordinances, yeah.
10:22So, okay.
10:24Now, ang AI in a box is, you said there's the hardware, there's the software, then there's the training.
10:33The hardware and software, okay na yun, di ba?
10:37Nandun naman yun.
10:38But yung training really depends din on the capacity, absorption capacity, tsaka willingness din to learn.
10:46And the baseline.
10:47But even before that, for hardware and software, what about data security?
10:54Is it also covered in the…
10:56Of course.
10:56Yes.
10:57I mean, just recently, just two days ago, nag-AI training kami for newsrooms in the Visayas.
11:04We did it dito sa Cebu.
11:10And kasama yun, parating may training on digital safety.
11:14That is an advocacy of PLDT also.
11:17Digital safety, cyber security.
11:19So, both on the group, company, industry levels, as well as down to the individuals.
11:26I'm curious, kasi here in the AI readiness and capacity assessment that PLDT and SMART conducted, there's a portion here on process automation.
11:39And you've mentioned that, yes, the common understanding is this is supposed to really reduce red tape.
11:45So, what information or data have you uncovered in this assessment on where the LGUs are, specifically for process automation?
11:56Well, among other things, for example, well, first I have to clarify, it's not our job, it's not our task.
12:05And we're not presenting na kami yung mag-a-unearth.
12:07Mag-o-automate.
12:08Or na kami mag-a-unearth nung…
12:11Ano yung i-automate?
12:12But what did you see?
12:13Well, ang sinasabi ng maraming LGUs, and we're talking about everyone from provincial to municipal to barangay levels, among those who responded, kasi about 100 yung nag-respond nung binlast namin.
12:31Also, iba-iba yung sumagot, as you might imagine.
12:34Yung iba, mayor ang sumagot, yung iba, city administrator, yung iba, IT department nilang…
12:41So, iba-iba yung orientation, iba-iba din yung gusto nilang gawin, yes.
12:45But when it comes to process automation, for example, ang tanong nila, is there a better way, nakatali yan sa citizen engagement, is there a better way for our citizens, for example, to file certain things?
13:02Is there an easier way, for example, for citizens to understand the budget, to request for something?
13:10Or, mas malapit sa buhay nila, is there an easier way for them to, let's say, to claim for PhilHealth?
13:18Or para to understand yung mga process?
13:22If I need to file for real estate taxes, is there a better way to do this?
13:27Parang ease of doing business, na hindi na siya pupunta ka dito, pupunta ka dito, parang electronic trail na lang, diba?
13:36Which is a dream, for a lot of us.
13:40I'll give you an example, not public, I have a friend who has a small company.
13:45And she has some costs in legal and HR, diba?
13:55Kasi every time may interface siya with their workers, kailangan sigurada yung sagot niya, diba?
14:04If somebody asks for a raise, if somebody complains, if somebody asks a question, don't we aren't we entitled to this?
14:11But it's a very small company.
14:14Ang ginawa niya, inupload niya ang labor code.
14:18And then inupload niya yung existing manual nila, HR manual nila.
14:24Inupload nila.
14:24So now, every time somebody asks, tatanungin niya yung AI, based on the labor code, ito yung gusto kong sabihin, how should I respond?
14:38So that it is a real response, it is a response, and also it is consistent with labor code and our own HR manuals.
14:46That's a fantastic use case that I've heard.
14:50Now, it doesn't mean na hindi niya na kailangan ng abogado, and hindi niya na kailangan ng HR consultant.
14:56But now, pagka pinadala niya yung draft response doon sa abogado, yung abogado doesn't have to do research, doesn't have to bill you two hours of his time, diba?
15:07It lessens also the back and forth.
15:08Oo, sasabihin na lang ng abogado, sige, okay na yan.
15:11Padala mo na yan, okay na yan.
15:12So, hindi lang siya nagkat ng time, nagkat din siya yung cost.
15:17The other thing also here is the barriers of adoption that you've also uncovered in the readiness and capacity assessment as on unclear policies on AI use.
15:33So, how do you intend to assist or support the LG use in this area?
15:39So, he asked our partner LG use, ano ba yung mga balakid sa inyo?
15:46And some very basic insights.
15:49Everybody says, oh, wala kaming technical capacity, hindi pa kami na titrain, and so on.
15:55So, yung IT nila, basic lang talaga yung...
15:58Not just the IT, but the entire LG, or at least yun yung ready answer nila.
16:03Wala pa kaming training.
16:05Tapos sinasabi nila, wala naman talaga kaming earmarked na budget for that.
16:09Alam mo naman dito, kailangan earmarked, diba?
16:11Kailangan, specific.
16:12So, some are also very careful because kung may budget ako for computers or infotech,
16:18pwede ko bang gamitin yun for subscriptions, for example.
16:21Yes, it's true.
16:23And then, the other thing is wala pang clear na policy ang mga LG use.
16:28Just like many organizations, even in the private sector, just like our households,
16:34wala pang tayong maa clear policy.
16:36It keeps people from confidently saying, or at least, in my mind, it keeps them from declaring.
16:43Kasi sa totoo lang naman, ginagamit na natin lahat, diba?
16:47But some people stop, are medyo nakakubli pa yun, eh.
16:51Medyo tinatago pa.
16:53Hush-hush.
16:53Like anything na tinatago mo, hindi mo talaga magamit ng todo.
16:58But what we've also found is, notwithstanding the unclear policies on AI use,
17:03the reality is, everybody is using it, diba?
17:06Iba-iba lang yung levels.
17:08Level.
17:08And so, on a tactical level, people are using AI, diba?
17:14Again, we'll bring it back to the level of our households.
17:17Walang policy.
17:18But our children are using it, diba?
17:20I'm using it, my wife is using it, diba?
17:24Mga kasambahay namin are using it, diba?
17:27They use it for recipes, and so on.
17:30That's true.
17:31But on a strategic and institutional level, yun yung wala.
17:34So, if you take that to, from the household to the LGUs, what that means is,
17:41they have a lot of, or if not most of their employees, already using AI, chat GPT,
17:49being the most popular.
17:51But on an institutional level, there is no messaging, and no structure, and no policy
17:57to tell them, na, oo nga, diba?
18:00And therefore, no real conversations on, paano ba natin ito magagamit ng maayos,
18:06na sabay-sabay tayo, na pinakamalaking impact.
18:10Do you think, there's also, it's also something to do with, you know,
18:15a clear understanding of what AI really is, and how should we use it?
18:23Because, I recently attended a conference, and there's a misunderstanding among,
18:30for the commercial, they think AI is there to replace people.
18:36Manpower.
18:36Let's say, you know, when you automate, like in manufacturing, you cut manpower.
18:43But, I don't think AI will be able to cut manpower, unless your job is routinary,
18:50and can really be replaced by the AI tool.
18:53But, like, there are discussions in the newsroom, you can never replace a reporter with an AI.
18:59Because, who will ask the question?
19:02Diba?
19:03Diba, who will go out on field and ask the question?
19:05It should be you and me.
19:06I think the common consensus, as of this time, is AI will not replace, correct me if I'm wrong,
19:16AI will not replace humans, but the humans who can work with AI will replace those who cannot.
19:24That's true.
19:25Ako ay, I mean, no position to say, kung ano yung tama, kung ano yung mali.
19:30But, I agree.
19:31Yes.
19:31I agree.
19:33Um, and, but, in the newsroom, kasi galing din naman ako sa media, we also should be honest about the fact that it has already replaced certain positions.
19:46Actually, even before AI, even, or at least, even before ChatGPT, we already knew that even, um, even the tasks of copy editors.
19:57Wala na, wala na.
19:58Wala na.
19:59Wala na.
19:59Wala na.
19:59Wala na.
20:00Wala na.
20:00Wala na copy editors.
20:00Wala na copy editors.
20:00I mean, I, and, and, and, and, there is such a thing as great copy editors when I was starting in the newspaper.
20:08Yes.
20:08Na talagang legendary copy editors.
20:11Of course, there was such a thing.
20:12Uh, ngayon hindi na eh.
20:14Parang you really don't, um, you really don't need it anymore because even before ChatGPT, you had Grammarly, even Microsoft could identify.
20:23Yes.
20:23Na, it, it, it, it.
20:25Nakapula, di ba?
20:25Yes, nakapula.
20:26Yun, ethics on use of AI, di ba?
20:31Parang, ah, do, ha, atong, at what extent do you declare that this document is processed by AI or is done by AI?
20:42Like, for example, because this is an, ano, na discussion, when you write your story, for example, a journalist, when you write your story, tapos, see Microsoft, at the time, Microsoft says, ah, wrong grammar or ganyan.
20:54Tapos, in-edit mo, do you declare that this article was edited by Microsoft?
20:59Hindi naman, di ba?
21:00But when you run your story, niran mo sa AI, tapos, in-edit ni AI, kailangan, for transparency purposes, do you declare ba na this story was edited or assisted by AI?
21:11Until, ato bang extent, parang, ang kasi ngayon parang itong problem na unclear policies, it's because parang, there's an observation that if you use AI, you are not smart.
21:23Parang, why, I don't know why, there appears to be an aversion to the tool.
21:28Parang, that's why we are very careful na AI, parang, parang, when, when one of our editors, one used to be the editor-in-chief of Sunstar Cebu, but was editor-in-chief in Sunstar Bacolod, si Marcelle Espina,
21:40wrote an editorial, di pala siya nagsulat, si AI ang nagsulat ng editorial, pero pinalabas niya, this editorial, this editorial, is ginawa ni AI.
21:53So, it was out on social media, was, we really observed, was, was the piece, criticized for it being an AI.
22:03If you notice the conversation, there was, maybe there were a few, but it was not, it was written by AI, but it was the topic itself.
22:12And equally important, nabanggit mo, the conversation around it, the commentary around that, di ba, was about the topic, di ba?
22:22And people were not debating AI, but oh, hindi, they were just saying, oh, that's a good point, and ito naman yung punto de vista ko.
22:29Di ba? Tapos, and then, so, isn't that more important than, ano?
22:33However, I do think transparency is important, but something more important, I think, than transparency, or a bigger, a more fundamental thing that transparency leads to, is accountability.
22:47So, sa akin, if you, if, one way to cut across, um, uh, all the dilemmas, is that your policy should be geared, ultimately, to around accountability.
23:00So, whether you wrote 10% of it, or 20% of it, or 100% of it, the first guideline, for me personally, and I use it for my own organization,
23:10I use it for our team in PLDT Smart, um, is that the first rule is, whatever you submit, in the case of media, whatever you publish,
23:21accountable tao, and it, it, it, because you cannot sue, you cannot sue the machine, and you cannot blame the machine, in the same way, the exact same way, that you cannot blame an intern.
23:33So, what's the difference between asking, uh, chat GPT to make your first draft, and asking an intern to make the first draft?
23:43It's the same thing.
23:44You will have to vet yung gagawin, and kung, and kung may mali, you cannot blame the intern, di ba?
23:52You cannot blame AI, ikaw, ikaw pa rin.
23:55So, ang sa akin, number one rule, if you use chat GPT, is, kailangan naiintindihan mo, that at the end of the day, ikaw pa rin yung pupukutan ng ulo diyan, pagka may, pagka napahamak tayo diyan.
24:06So, ikaw pa rin yung mag-vivet.
24:08The box stops with you.
24:09Yeah, anything in journalism, whether there's an AI or what, verify, verify, hindi naman talaga nawawala yan.
24:16The other thing lang siguro, although we'll go back to that, because this is now an example of conversations around policies, but the other thing lang siguro is when it comes to images, I think it's important for people to really declare that, and videos, for people to actually declare that this is made by AI-generated.
24:38Kasi I've also seen footages of cats riding on the back of the alligator, and people might believe, yeah, people might believe it, no?
24:46Nakita ko din yung pinost mo na yung lola na nag...
24:50Yes, and I have to put, it's an AI-generated.
24:53But if you just, po nakita parang totoong-totoo, tsaka it really captures your emotion, pero tama yun, AI-generated yun.
24:59But also, it's not just images.
25:02Now you see, mapapansin mo sa Facebook, merong mga inspirational stories na itong alam.
25:08And then when you, when you do a little sleuthing and a little research, you can't find the story anywhere.
25:16So it's not just about...
25:17I think this was the survivor with a dog.
25:19Yes.
25:20It just shows most of your time, you're on there.
25:27Okay, now going back to the AI in a box, what's inside the box?
25:31Okay, so same thing that we said kanina.
25:34There's hardware, there's software, tapos may training.
25:38So meron may laptop doon, may smartphone, merong Wi-Fi from PLDT and smart, and then may software.
25:50Apart from the other things that we've already mentioned, AI is there.
25:54There's a chat GPT plus subscription in particular, the $20 per month.
26:01We will cover that.
26:03We're trying to target, I think, 40 LGUs to start.
26:09That will get the kit.
26:12They will get the subscription.
26:14And then, as we said, the third pillar of it is the training.
26:17They will get training also.
26:18Of those 40, we will pilot in one LGU per Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to actually develop an AI tool na sila ang magde-develop.
26:31Ah, so you mean, they will be developing their own GPTs?
26:36Yes.
26:36Okay.
26:37So with your assistance?
26:39Well, not with my team.
26:40We will work with technical experts, with people who know better than us, and my hand-holding.
26:49So we will let the LGUs identify what can we use this for.
26:55They will develop the tool.
26:57We will provide X number of hours that they can tap essentially their consultant to actually develop this.
27:06Then whatever they develop goes back into the box.
27:10So that when we share that now with other LGUs, they now have tools developed by fellow LGUs.
27:18And hopefully, if we continue this program, everybody is adding value to the box.
27:23So para siyang, let's say, if Cebu City naka-develop na siya ng GPT on inventory on real properties.
27:31Okay.
27:31Tapos, so ako si Madawa, hindi na ako.
27:34Because there's already one.
27:35Oh, you can.
27:35Tweak mo na lang, di ba?
27:36Or if...
27:37So more automations, more custom GPTs will be getting inside the box.
27:41That's right.
27:42And then we're really excited to find also what will excite them.
27:47We're also excited to hear.
27:50Ano yung mga innovations na may iisip nila?
27:53Na masasuggest nila?
27:56And for all we know, I mean, some of the things that might be, that they might imagine,
28:01we didn't even imagine when we thought of this.
28:04So, for example, sabi mo, there will be three LGUs, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao.
28:12So, when is the actual rollout to LGUs for the...
28:17By September.
28:18By September.
28:20Very timing.
28:21September kasi ano yan, eh, Marshall.
28:24No, it's press freedom.
28:26Ang naalala ko lang yung the AI for press freedom.
28:30Okay.
28:30It's September.
28:31Na tisipin mo, for example, AI for access to information?
28:34Yes.
28:35Mlaking bagay yan.
28:36And if our...
28:38You know, we actually have one of the most open budgets in the world.
28:42The Philippines does.
28:44And one of our technical experts, CJ Mark Tordesilla, former editor ng GMA,
28:50he actually developed a bot where in-upload niya yung budgets ng Philippines for the past five years.
28:56And then now anybody can ask questions and you can be very confident
29:03na yung sagot sa inyo nung bot is reliable because it's not just ChatGPT.
29:11Parang, Jay Mark actually took the time to test it on his own.
29:15He invited a bunch of us journalists to test it.
29:19And then based on the feedback, he actually has the capacity to go back into the code of ChatGPT
29:25and understand bakit nag-error, bakit nagka-hallucination dito, bakit mali yung inaalam.
29:30Then he tweaks it and so on.
29:32And that's the kind of thing that we want to happen.
29:34So, if you ask an LGU, for example, to say that we can be more transparent even than the national government,
29:42then imagine what an AI toolkit developed by the LGU might be able to do.
29:48Citizens will then be able to ask,
29:50magkana bang ginastos ng administrasyon natin sa mga kalye?
29:56Diba? Anong distrito sa atin yung got the bulk of the expenses and so on.
30:03Part of the objective for this one is to make sure that no LGUs is going to be left behind.
30:10As much as possible.
30:11As much as possible.
30:12Yes.
30:13But we also know that there are LGUs that are located in urbanized locations
30:18and there are also those who are in rural locations.
30:22So, what support do we also have in mind to make sure that those who are in the rural areas
30:29would be able to have the same access as those in the urban areas?
30:35Alam mo, DJ, that's an all-of-society question.
30:39Yes.
30:40Diba?
30:40So, mahalaga yung, ano.
30:41But PLDT and SMART, you know, we are invested.
30:45In fact, we're mandated.
30:46We are mandated to work with what we call geographically isolated
30:51and disadvantaged, ba?
30:55And disadvantaged areas or GIDA.
30:57No?
30:58We're mandated.
30:59But even beyond that mandate,
31:01our existing toolkits and our existing kits and boxes and bags
31:05are all designed.
31:07So, hindi naman kayo magugulat.
31:09And everything that we discussed when it comes to school in a bag, to AI in a box,
31:16nauna talaga yung, ano, we try to give it as much as possible to these GIDA
31:21or isolated areas.
31:23So, that commitment and the programs for that have been there for a long time already.
31:31Pero mahirap talaga.
31:33And we can't do it on our own.
31:35It's an industry-wide mandate.
31:37Hindi lang naman kami.
31:39And this is precisely why we work with LGUs and we work on...
31:42But you're right.
31:43None of these things are possible.
31:45We can talk about AI all we want.
31:47Pero kung walang connectivity...
31:49But, you know, the good news, I think, is there's evidence naman talaga
31:56that our people are not even just slowly anymore,
32:01are having more and more access.
32:03Because, kanina, you asked me, di ba, parang, lahat ba talaga tayo may access na?
32:09Well, the answer is no.
32:11Pero karamihan.
32:12The real question is, ano yung level of access?
32:17Ano yung speed?
32:19And how much time can people actually afford?
32:22But I'll give you an example which doesn't necessarily tell you that it's perfect.
32:27But will surprise you.
32:28So, we went to BARM, and then we wanted to ask this question.
32:33How many people have access to data?
32:38And the premise there was, wala dito sa Maguindanao.
32:43Wala silang access to data.
32:45Walang access to internet.
32:47Kaya mahalaga syempre pa rin ang community radio.
32:51Mahalaga ang community papers.
32:53But sadly, walang ano.
32:55Pero, alam mo, nagda-drive kami through Maguindanao.
33:00And pagtingin ko dun sa Pilapil.
33:02Sa bukod, sa Pilapil.
33:04There was a row of kids.
33:07Dancing.
33:08In a line.
33:10So, clearly, everybody listening in knows what's happening.
33:14Di ba?
33:15They, nagtitiktok sila.
33:17And then, nung nagdaan kami sa isang bayan,
33:20you could see, it's a sixth class municipality.
33:22It's one of the isolated barangays.
33:24When I looked up at the balcony of this small house,
33:29ganun din, merong isang bata na,
33:32kita mo, dancing also sa silong nung bahay nila.
33:37So, sabi ko, nobody can tell me that that's not TikTok.
33:40Yes.
33:40But that said, the question is,
33:43was that live?
33:44Probably not.
33:45What it probably means is,
33:46nagre-record yung mga bata.
33:48Para i-upload later.
33:49And at some point in the day,
33:51they will probably have time to upload.
33:55But you get both the good and the bad
33:58with that story.
34:02So, the good is that there's evidence na this is working
34:07and that we're affording them something.
34:12And nobody is completely isolated anymore.
34:19On the other hand,
34:20I think it's safe to assume
34:22that those kids probably could only afford,
34:26you know, maybe 10 minutes to upload something.
34:30I don't know when they'll get back online again.
34:33But they are part of the community
34:36and we hope that things like this
34:38can further improve that.
34:41The challenge din naman sa connectivity
34:43is the setting up of the infrastructure.
34:46And, I mean,
34:48not just smart,
34:50but the other telcos were also complaining
34:52na yun na,
34:53you cannot set up a tower
34:54because getting permits is really very difficult.
34:59So, contribution din yan.
35:01But ito did,
35:02for Sunstar lang,
35:03when we started the website
35:05in the early 2000,
35:0880% of our viewers are outside.
35:12Today,
35:13more than 90% of our audience
35:16is from the Philippines.
35:17What does it say?
35:19There's more internet connection now
35:21compared to before
35:22because it's all about internet penetration.
35:25So,
35:27maybe,
35:27hindi dun sa
35:28islands na kukonti lang yung tao
35:31kasi di naman
35:33if you set up something,
35:36there is also an investment.
35:38But,
35:38I'm sure,
35:39pag pupunta sila in areas,
35:42they get connected already.
35:44we're not,
35:45maybe not like Singapore na ilang percent
35:47yung connectivity nila,
35:48but maybe not also bad for the Philippines.
35:50May challenges naman talaga sa atin
35:53given our situation
35:54as an archipelago.
35:55Yes.
35:56And it's,
35:57you know,
35:57we have 7,000 plus,
35:59hindi ko na alam kung ano yung official number.
36:01Kasi,
36:01nagsisink na yung iba.
36:03Hindi,
36:04dumami.
36:05Ah,
36:05dumami.
36:06Ah,
36:06kasi malami nang nagreclamation.
36:07Kasi,
36:08no,
36:08kasi,
36:08no.
36:09Tama,
36:09sa Manila pala,
36:11natagbagan na.
36:13So,
36:14you intend to roll this out
36:17to pilot 3,
36:18no,
36:18for now,
36:19but how many LGUs
36:20are we targeting eventually?
36:23We're targeting right now,
36:25I think,
36:2540,
36:2640 LGUs,
36:28which is obviously
36:29a very,
36:31very small percentage
36:32of all the municipalities
36:33in the Philippines.
36:35But the good news is
36:36this is not something
36:37that we alone will do.
36:39Yeah,
36:39but let's say,
36:40for example,
36:41I'm not part of the 40,
36:42but I want to avail of this.
36:45How will LGU
36:47can,
36:49I don't know.
36:50Well,
36:50they can message us,
36:52certainly.
36:53But the other thing is
36:55we have modules
36:56naman
36:57on the training.
36:58Okay.
36:59I mentioned,
37:01you know,
37:01what's included in the kit.
37:03And mahalaga yung kit na yun,
37:04lalo na
37:05sa mga
37:05sa mga
37:06sa mga
37:06sa mga
37:07mga
37:07mga
37:07mga
37:07mga
37:08mga
37:08six-class
37:08municipalities,
37:09mga
37:09mga
37:09barangays
37:10that are,
37:11you know,
37:11hard to reach.
37:13Yun,
37:13mahalaga yun.
37:14But the good news here is
37:15wala naman kaming
37:16dinalagay sakit
37:18that is not accessible
37:19for many other LGUs.
37:21Meron talagang LGUs
37:22that we,
37:23and there are really LGUs
37:24that they understand
37:25that siguro naman
37:26hindi kayo
37:27priority namin,
37:28lalo na
37:29first-class
37:29municipality ka,
37:30you know,
37:31and there's no,
37:32there's nothing magical
37:33in all of these things.
37:34The laptops
37:35are the same things
37:36that a municipality
37:38can buy on their own.
37:39The devices,
37:40the access to information
37:42is probably something
37:43they're already subscribed to.
37:45And even the AI
37:47tools
37:48is already within reach.
37:50There's nothing in the kit
37:51that is not available,
37:54that is proprietary.
37:56It's something that
37:59gaya nang sabi ko,
38:00our children
38:01are already
38:01are already using.
38:03Siguro,
38:03maybe what's unique
38:04to the kit
38:05is the
38:06yung
38:06hand-to-hand,
38:07hand-to-hand ba yun?
38:09The mentoring.
38:10The mentoring.
38:12Kasi yung
38:12if you just
38:13mag-DIY ka
38:14ng mga ganito,
38:16wala siyang flow.
38:17Kailangan mo talaga
38:18ng structure
38:18for training.
38:19And I think
38:20this is
38:21parang unique siya
38:22dun sa
38:23inside the box,
38:24what's in the box.
38:25I think
38:27ang isang
38:28hope na ba namin
38:29is really just
38:30it's not even
38:31we're saying
38:32it's not even
38:33as if we're saying
38:34we will inspire.
38:36No,
38:37it's
38:37our hope is that
38:38LGUs
38:39that we work with,
38:41that we can afford
38:41to work with,
38:42will be the ones
38:43to inspire other
38:44LGUs
38:46with their own innovations.
38:47I think that's
38:48the biggest outcome
38:49and impact
38:50that's realistic
38:51with this.
38:52Kahit kaunti lang
38:52yung makakatrabaho
38:53namin.
38:54From that
38:56handful,
38:57it will be easy
38:59for other LGUs
39:00to say,
39:00oh,
39:00kaya namin yan.
39:02Or we can use that.
39:04So,
39:05mag-replique,
39:05mag-anak-anak
39:06talaga siya.
39:07For each
39:08LGU,
39:10once they
39:11avail
39:12of this
39:13opportunity,
39:15how fast
39:15is the
39:16implementation
39:17including training?
39:18Yung timeline lang.
39:19From the time
39:20they enroll
39:21until they can
39:22fully use it already.
39:23Yung training namin
39:24is basically
39:24one day.
39:25But the mentorship
39:27is for
39:28X number
39:30of hours?
39:31Oh,
39:31it's for three months.
39:32X number
39:33of hours
39:34over three months.
39:35So,
39:36we provide
39:37that,
39:37we provide
39:38the technical support,
39:39we give them
39:39access
39:40to a
39:41technical expert.
39:43So,
39:43my hand-holding
39:44as they're
39:45coding
39:45the tool,
39:47as they're
39:48developing
39:49the tool.
39:50So,
39:51something like that.
39:51In three months,
39:52you have
39:52an actual
39:54workable tool
39:55that we can,
39:56like we said,
39:57goes back
39:58to the box
39:58and we can
39:59then share
40:00to the others.
40:01And in fact,
40:02once that's developed,
40:03it doesn't just
40:04go into the box.
40:06We release it
40:07to the wild.
40:08We share it.
40:09It's a GPT
40:11and it's a tool
40:12that anybody
40:13can now
40:14access
40:15and then
40:16play around with.
40:18It's true
40:18because when
40:19you,
40:19when
40:19you go to
40:21chat GPT,
40:22you just
40:22have a GPT,
40:23there are
40:23already.
40:26You can either
40:27use it
40:28as it is
40:28or tweak it
40:29based on
40:30your requirements.
40:31So,
40:31I think that
40:32it's the thing
40:33that's happening
40:33to the custom GPTs
40:35of LGUs.
40:36Really,
40:36I really hope
40:37that
40:37this will help
40:39automate
40:41the tedious process
40:43in getting documents
40:44from government
40:44or even processes.
40:46That's the only
40:47to re-renew
40:47permits.
40:49That's a big help.
40:50And I'm also glad
40:51that there's
40:52a special focus
40:53for those
40:54who don't have
40:56access
40:56like the
40:57rural communities.
40:59For the LGUs.
41:00What is the LGUs?
41:02The first obstacle
41:05that people
41:06mentioned
41:07is
41:07technical capacity.
41:10But what's
41:11really exciting
41:11about AI
41:12is you don't
41:13need technical
41:14capacity.
41:15You just
41:15keep telling
41:17people,
41:18you don't need
41:18training on
41:19ChadGPT.
41:19The way to
41:20learn is
41:20go there,
41:22ask any
41:23question,
41:23literally any
41:24question in
41:25the world
41:25and you can
41:26start to
41:27figure out
41:27now.
41:29And not
41:29just
41:33tanong,
41:34the important
41:35things you
41:35could ask,
41:36how do I?
41:38And you
41:38can then
41:39imagine for
41:39an LGU
41:41na pwede
41:43mong
41:43tanongin
41:44in your
41:45natural
41:46language,
41:47di ba?
41:47Yes.
41:47Hindi ka
41:48kailangan
41:48mag-inglis.
41:49Pwede ka
41:50mag-tanong.
41:51Pwede mong
41:51tanongin,
41:52naku,
41:53ma-hospital
41:53si tatay,
41:55di ba?
41:56Paano
41:56kung,
41:57ano yung
41:58mga
41:58beneficiyong
41:58pwede kong
41:59applyan?
42:00Or sino
42:01ang unang
42:02opisina
42:02na kailangan
42:03kumpuntahan?
42:04Di ba?
42:04How many times
42:05have you gone
42:05to a
42:06government
42:06office?
42:07Tapos pupunta
42:08kayo,
42:08literally,
42:09saang window,
42:11saang office,
42:11sino
42:12kakatupang ko?
42:12Tapos,
42:14tapas,
42:14tapas,
42:14tapas,
42:14tapas,
42:14you use
42:15your entire
42:16date,
42:16tapos,
42:17wala.
42:18But what
42:19if an LGU
42:20not only
42:21tells you
42:22to go to
42:22ChatGPT,
42:23but actually
42:23says,
42:24no,
42:24ito yung
42:24gamitin mo,
42:25dahil kami
42:26na nag-train
42:26diyan,
42:27it is our
42:28ordinances,
42:29it is our
42:29rules that
42:30are there,
42:31then now
42:31people can
42:31go,
42:32and then
42:32malinaw,
42:33give me a
42:33step-by-step
42:35kung saan
42:35na pupupunta.
42:36To avail
42:37of free
42:38hospitalization,
42:41kung gano'n.
42:42Maganda na yun.
42:44And you don't
42:45actually need
42:45technical
42:47training
42:47on that.
42:50So,
42:50that's very
42:51exciting.
42:51So,
42:52Roby,
42:55hoping na
42:57marami pang
42:57LGUs
42:58na ma-enroll,
42:59not just 40,
43:00but eventually,
43:01we,
43:02yun nga,
43:02no LGUs
43:03left behind.
43:04So,
43:04it will
43:04going to
43:05be a
43:05big help
43:06for the
43:07LGUs,
43:07but
43:07hindi lang
43:08help,
43:09but
43:09I'm sure
43:10it will
43:10cut
43:10opportunities
43:12of
43:12corruption.
43:14Diba?
43:14Yun yun.
43:15Talagang
43:16100%
43:17yung
43:17papasok
43:18sa
43:18health
43:19center.
43:20Kasi
43:21nakikita na,
43:22oh,
43:22bakit
43:22nakalagay na
43:23budget dito,
43:24merong
43:25cotton,
43:25but
43:25bakit
43:26ako
43:26bibili
43:26ng
43:26cotton?
43:27Diba?
43:27So,
43:28transparency
43:28is there
43:29and
43:29automation
43:30is big
43:31help
43:31sa mga
43:31ganyan.
43:32So,
43:32with that,
43:34meron pa
43:34kang question?
43:35Duda,
43:35may question ka pa.
43:36Sige.
43:36wala na,
43:37wala na.
43:38Sige.
43:38Sige.
43:39Sige ka na.
43:39I'm already
43:41grateful
43:43that at least
43:44there are more
43:44steps that are
43:45taken
43:46to
43:47advance
43:48AI
43:48in the
43:50LGUs,
43:51especially
43:51those who
43:52are remote.
43:53So,
43:54I'm already
43:54happy with that.
43:55Yes.
43:56So,
43:57Robby,
43:57thank you
43:58for your
43:59time with
44:00us and
44:00introducing
44:01the AI
44:02in a box.
44:04We're
44:04excited.
44:05Maybe
44:05after three
44:06months,
44:07you can
44:07give us
44:07a feedback
44:08like,
44:09how's
44:09the LGUs
44:10adapting?
44:11Maybe in
44:12three months,
44:12the LGUs
44:13interviewer.
44:14Yeah,
44:15it's true.
44:16Even better.
44:17Even better.
44:17Even better.
44:19Yeah.
44:19So,
44:19with that,
44:20thank you
44:20very much
44:21for joining
44:22us this
44:22afternoon's
44:23Beyond
44:24the Headlines.
44:25I'm Mildred
44:26Galarpe.
44:27And I'm
44:27DJ Moises.
44:29Good
44:29afternoon.
44:29Good
44:30afternoon.
Be the first to comment