Las Piñas Explores AI to Improve Public Services with PLDT, Smart AI-in-a-Box

Las Piñas is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to explore new ways of managing information, developing projects, and delivering public services, with PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box.

 

“AI-in-a-Box helps us bring all our data together, from green card programs to services for women, the youth, and TUPAD beneficiaries,” said Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar. “This way, we know exactly who we’ve helped and who still needs support. In the end, it’s about making sure our services reach the people who need them most.”

 

AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make AI more accessible to communities. The program combines digital tools, connectivity, training, and mentorship to help local government units turn emerging technologies into practical solutions to enhance public service delivery. 

 

“Through AI-in-a-Box, we want to give city personnel not just access to technology, but the confidence to explore how AI can address the needs of their own communities,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “When LGUs are equipped to make better use of their own information, they can begin finding new ways to make public services more responsive and accessible.”

 

Supported by PLDT-Smart Foundation and partners Microsoft and HP Philippines, PLDT and Smart provided the Las Piñas City government with an AI access kit, which includes an HP laptop, a SmartBro 5G Max Turbo WiFi unit, a smartphone, a premium AI tool subscription, and Smart prepaid load cards. 

 

"Across the Philippines, we are seeing tremendous momentum in AI adoption.​" said Ida Ong-Co, HP Philippines Managing Director, "At HP, we believe the next phase of AI is about helping organizations create smarter workflows that deliver sustainable results.​ It's about bringing together the right technology, security, visibility, and workforce experiences to enable AI adoption that is secure, scalable, and measurable.​"

 

And to help the city kick off its AI journey, PLDT and Smart also conducted an AI training to provide LGU employees hands-on experience in identifying where AI could be useful in their own work. Conducted by social innovation agency Limitless Lab, selected LGU personnel were trained in ‘vibe coding’, which uses natural-language prompts, rather than manually written code, to build and refine software prototypes. The approach allows people without formal programming or IT backgrounds to turn ideas into working concepts more quickly.

Staff from the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) used the training to develop a platform that will consolidate beneficiary data, aiming to prevent duplicate entries and ensure aid reaches the right beneficiaries.

 

“Our team was able to create a simple wireframe for an internal database that could help one of our sections with profiling and encoding,” said Paul Cristian B. Bautista, CSWDO Media/IT staff. “What made the exercise useful was that we were working on an actual need within our office and could see how a possible solution might look. The output is not yet a fully developed system, but it gives our team a starting point to visualize and explain the system we may want to develop further. This can make the planning and development process more practical and easier to understand.”

 

Other office personnel who are in the frontline of providing public services developed wireframes for an AI-powered chatbot that could answer frequently asked questions to cut down wait times for simple queries and free up staff for more complex tasks.

PLDT and Smart have extended AI-in-a-Box to other local government units across the Philippines, combining technology, connectivity and capability-building to bring AI closer to communities beyond major urban centers.

 

Through the initiative, PLDT and Smart provide participating communities with access to digital tools, training, and mentorship as they build solutions designed to address local concerns. AI-in-a-Box supports the PLDT Group’s much broader efforts to expand digital inclusion and encourage innovation in line with the UNSDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

MSMEs Across PH Communities Sharpen Digital Skills to Grow Their Businesses with PLDT, Smart

For Queen G. Anino, a rice producer from Santa Cruz, Laguna, learning how to market Cabisera Rice online marked an important step in growing her enterprise. A digital upskilling workshop supported by PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) helped her take the first steps toward reaching more customers.

"The training came at the right time because we are just starting to promote Cabisera Rice and are only beginning to build our social media presence," she said. "With these tools and modern methods, we are excited to become farmer-entrepreneurs who can actively market our products."

As the Philippines marked National MSME Week, Anino's story reflects the experience of many entrepreneurs supported by PLDT and Smart's digital inclusion initiatives. Through #KonektedforLivelihoods, the Group continues to help Filipino entrepreneurs build the skills and confidence to grow their businesses in an increasingly digital marketplace.

During the first half of the year, PLDT and Smart brought digital learning sessions to 21 communities nationwide, reaching 1,279 MSMEs, agripreneurs, tourism stakeholders, and livelihood beneficiaries. Conducted with partners including the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, International Trade Centre (ITC) Digital-PINAS initiative, and local government units, the workshops covered digital entrepreneurship, content creation, online marketing, and cybersecurity awareness.

"We want our farmers, fisherfolk, and small entrepreneurs to keep up with changing trends and improve their marketing and sales through digital platforms," said Maria Charisma Bea Agarao, Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Santa Cruz. The town of Santa Cruz, Laguna was one of the partner-venues of a Digital-PINAS community-based MSME workshop, held with support from sole telco partner PLDT and Smart.

In these sessions, participants also strengthened their skills in branding and product presentation. Angelica Martinez of the Rural Improvement Club Kalinga Center shared how the training helped their group move beyond word-of-mouth selling by presenting products more effectively using a mobile phone. In Los Baños, Laguna, Rafael J. Jumawid of the Los Baños Municipal Cooperative Development Council, said the smartphone photography session changed how members approached product promotion.

Tourism MSMEs also benefited through learning sessions with CAITO CALABARZON and Hospitality Alliance Group of Subic Bay Freeport. Participants said the workshops strengthened their use of Reels for marketing while raising awareness of online scams targeting travel businesses.

John Eric Alviz, Vice President and Head of SME Growth Marketing, Digital and Trade at PLDT Enterprise, said that helping MSMEs succeed requires more than access to technology. It also means equipping entrepreneurs with the skills to use digital tools for business growth. "Through our partnerships with government and industry, PLDT Enterprise continues to provide MSMEs with reliable connectivity, practical digital solutions, and learning opportunities that help them strengthen operations, reach more customers, and grow their businesses."

Stephanie V. Orlino, Assistant Vice President and Head of the Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, said that practical digital skills can help open new opportunities for entrepreneurs when paired with strong community partnerships. "Digital skills become more meaningful when communities can immediately apply them to strengthen their livelihoods. Through partnerships with government and local organizations, we are helping entrepreneurs build the confidence to market, protect, and grow their businesses online."

Through #KonektedforLivelihoods, PLDT and Smart continue to work with government, industry, and community partners to help Filipino entrepreneurs strengthen their digital skills, expand their market reach, and create new opportunities in an increasingly connected world.

TP in the Philippines Boosts Digital Inclusion, Turns Over Computer Sets to Support DICT Smart Villages in Mindanao

Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines, July 2026 – TP in the Philippines, a global leader in digital business services, has donated 15 computer units to support the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region 10’s Smart Village Initiative (SVI) in Northern Mindanao.

Reinforcing its commitment to advancing digital literacy and introducing more Filipinos to the opportunities enabled by technology and artificial intelligence (AI), this initiative provides underserved communities with the training and tools needed to open pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. The donation reflects TP’s broader advocacy of equipping local talent with future-ready skills to thrive in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.

“Through initiatives like this, TP in the Philippines continues to strengthen its role as a partner in nation-building by providing access to digital resources, computer literacy, and introductory AI knowledge—essential competencies for the evolving future of work,” said James Garcia, Vice President for IT at TP in the Philippines.

The turnover was led by TP’s Cagayan De Oro site, with the computer units directly benefiting learners in three designated Smart Villages in Region 10:  Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte, Dalingap in Misamis Occidental, and Capihan in Bukidnon, each serving as models for digital transformation and inclusive rural development.

The DICT adopted the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Smart Village Initiative to bridge the digital gap in underserved communities through better internet access, literacy programs, and e-government services. In Region 10, the agency expands on this mission by delivering ICT training sessions for selected participants in office productivity applications, basic AI tools, and social media marketing. Ultimately, these programs provide participants with the essential skills needed to transition into sustainable, tech-enabled careers.

This collaboration underscores the power of public-private partnerships in driving inclusive growth nationwide and ensuring rural communities are not left behind. By expanding access to digital tools and foundational ICT education, TP in the Philippines and the DICT are empowering Filipinos to improve opportunities for livelihood, learning, and participation in the digital economy.

Metro Cebu Strengthens Push for Smarter Local Governance through PLDT, Smart’s AI-in-a-Box

Metro Cebu is taking a major step toward smarter and more responsive public service with the rollout of PLDT and Smart AI-in-a-Box (AIAB) program.

 

AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible to communities. The program combines digital tools, connectivity, training, and mentorship to help local government units turn emerging technologies into practical solutions. As part of the initiative, participating LGUs received an AI-in-a-Box kit that includes a laptop, a smartphone, a Smart connectivity device, and premium access to AI tools, including ChatGPT.

 

In a simple ceremony at the Cebu City Hall, Mayor Nestor Archival received the AI-in-a-Box package on behalf of the local government of Cebu City, from PLDT and Smart represented by Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement and Corporate Communications, and Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement.

 

The rollout successfully extends across Metro Cebu, including Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City, which also received their respective AIAB packages.  Key personnel from all three cities have undergone specialized training to strengthen their internal AI capabilities and identify practical applications of AI in local government work.

 

“We at PLDT and Smart believe that technology should help enhance the delivery of public service. Through the AI-in-a-Box Program, we affirm our commitment in assisting LGUs level up service delivery through a more citizen-focused, practical, secure, and innovative technology," said Alampay.

 

As one of the four pioneer participant cities in the country, Cebu City proudly represents the entire Visayas region in a mentorship and acceleration program organized by PLDT and Smart, with support from the group’s social outreach arm, the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF). This mentorship program is specifically designed to help local offices transform conceptual ideas into practical, real-world AI solutions for faster, more responsive governance. Through the program, participating Cebu City personnel will receive guidance as they develop and deploy AI-enabled solutions that respond to specific needs in their communities.

 

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Mayor Archival warmly welcomed the program, noting that it is heartening for Cebu City to be selected as a pioneer participant and the sole representative from the Visayas. He emphasized that through PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box program the city will strengthen its use of innovation and AI solutions to deliver faster, more efficient, and more compassionate service to the people of Cebu.

 

By bridging the gap between advanced technology and localized public service, this initiative underscores PLDT and Smart's broader commitment to fostering digital inclusion across the Philippines. As these local government units integrate AI into their daily workflows, the program aims to establish a scalable blueprint for digital governance that can be replicated in other provinces, ultimately driving nationwide development through shared technological progress.