TLDR: The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has emphasized the critical role of strong policy frameworks in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for effective and ethical good governance. Kicking off the Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) 2025, PIDS President Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño highlighted AI’s potential to enhance public services while stressing the need for responsible adoption, evidence-based research, and citizen engagement to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI-driven government systems.
MANILA – The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) officially launched its annual Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) on September 1, 2025, with a strong call for the development of robust policy frameworks to guide the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into governance. The theme for this year’s DPRM is ‘Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI,’ underscoring the transformative potential and inherent challenges of AI in public administration.
Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño, President of PIDS, emphasized in his opening remarks that ‘policy research provides the guardrails that help governments adopt technology responsibly.’ He noted that AI is already significantly altering decision-making processes, resource allocation, and service delivery across various sectors. Tuaño highlighted the ‘tremendous potential’ of AI-related developments to make government services ‘faster and more competitive,’ enabling agencies to ‘do more with their resources’ .
However, Tuaño stressed that AI-driven governance is a shared responsibility, extending beyond just policymakers and technologists. He called upon researchers to ‘provide solid evidence,’ urged the government to ‘act with fairness and foresight,’ and encouraged citizens to remain ‘engaged and critical.’ He also tasked the media to ‘continue to shine a light so that these conversations reach everyone’ .
PIDS Senior Research Fellow Adoracion Navarro further elaborated on the integration of AI data analytics and digital platforms into government systems. She identified a dual opportunity for improving services and addressing critical issues. Navarro stated, ‘In our use of AI in government systems, we aim to generate public value in terms of efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.’ She explained that ‘efficiency gains can be harnessed through streamlined processes,’ and ‘transparency through less corruption and enhanced accountability,’ all of which ‘requires effective and timely government strategies’ .
Adding another perspective, University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies Professorial Fellow Emmanuel Lallana cautioned that merely integrating AI into existing structures is insufficient. He argued that AI must be utilized ‘to deepen democracy,’ which he considers ‘the ultimate goal.’ Lallana proposed addressing the digital infrastructure deficit, promoting AI literacy, and implementing participatory AI to tackle democratic concerns associated with AI use .
Also Read:
- AI Ethics in Focus: Leaders Convene in Hyderabad to Address Challenges and Chart a Human-Centric Future
- PLDT Inaugurates Philippines’ First AI-Ready Hyperscale Data Center, VITRO Santa Rosa, to Drive Digital Innovation
The DPRM, observed annually in September under Presidential Proclamation No. 247 (2002), aims to promote awareness and the use of policy research in national development. PIDS serves as the lead convener for this month-long observance . This year’s regional kickoff for DPRM 2025 was held in Baguio City on August 20, bringing together local media, policymakers, academics, and civil society organizations to discuss how AI policies can be localized to fit cultural contexts, respect indigenous knowledge, and address geographic and institutional realities . The discussions explored practical applications such as smart city development, AI in agriculture, and AI-driven innovations in education .
