Study finds many Philippine LGUs still need people, internet and funding for AI

What happened

The Philippine Information Agency reported that many local government units landed in the low to near-moderate range of an AI-readiness assessment presented by researchers from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

The reported barriers include shortages in computer and AI skills, limited internet connections to local offices, and limited funds and resources for AI initiatives. The underlying PIDS work is Discussion Paper 2025-48, so its findings should be read as research open to further refinement rather than a final government scorecard.

Why it matters in the Philippines

AI adoption is not only a question of buying software. An LGU also needs staff who can define a useful problem, reliable connectivity, appropriate data, a budget and a way to check whether the result helps residents.

That makes small trials with clear results more useful than broad transformation claims. A local office could begin with one service queue, document the baseline, protect personal data and compare the result before expanding.

What to watch next

• Whether PIDS publishes a revised or final version of the readiness study.
• Training and shared-service programmes that smaller municipalities can actually access.
• Public measures for connectivity, staff capacity, rules for handling data and service outcomes.
• Examples outside Metro Manila that report results rather than demonstrations alone.