COMMUNITY | Baguio tests AI tool to streamline business permits
The tool allows applicants to check whether a proposed business is permitted at a specific location based on the city’s zoning classifications and requirements.
Baguio City is testing an artificial intelligence-powered tool to help business applicants determine whether their proposed establishments comply with local zoning rules, as part of efforts to improve the city’s permitting process.
Called BIZ Checker, the online platform was developed by city government personnel who participated in an AI mentorship and acceleration program under PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box initiative.
The tool allows applicants to check whether a proposed business is permitted at a specific location based on the city’s zoning classifications and requirements.
“Using the platform, the client or the applicant can see if their business is appropriate for that site,” said Roland Bautista, senior project evaluation officer of the Baguio City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office.
BIZ Checker aims to address problems that can delay business applications, including incomplete documents and proposed establishments that do not comply with zoning rules. These issues may only become apparent after applicants approach the city government.
The platform also features Rolly Bot, a chatbot that uses government documents and data to provide information to users. During the pilot, some residents who were less familiar with technology were able to access the system using their mobile phones, Bautista said.
“Some of them are non-techie, but when it comes to gadgets, even a few 60-year-olds are learning to use their phones to access the solution,” he said.
The project followed the distribution of AI access kits to the Baguio City government earlier this year. PLDT and Smart, with support from PLDT Smart Foundation, Lenovo Philippines and Microsoft, provided equipment that included a laptop, smartphone and connectivity device, along with premium access to AI tools.
The initiative is part of AI-in-a-Box, a PLDT Group program that combines digital tools, connectivity and training to help communities and local governments develop practical applications for artificial intelligence.
“Technology for good means using innovation to address real needs in our communities,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “Through AI-in-a-Box, PLDT and Smart are working with local government units not only to provide access to AI, but also to build their capacity to develop practical solutions. We hope these efforts can help local government units (LGUs) make public services more responsive and meaningful for the people they serve.”
Selected Baguio City personnel underwent a three-month mentorship and acceleration program to develop an AI-powered solution for public service delivery.
Testing BIZ Checker also revealed gaps that the development team must address. Bryan Sombilon, senior project technical specialist at the city’s Planning, Development and Sustainability Office, said the system needed to account for businesses operating on government-owned properties and the permits required for such cases.
“We have to account for businesses that will be operating on government-owned properties. These are situations we encountered during the pilot, and now we know they also need to be reflected in the system,” he said.
The city is also reviewing zoning ordinances that date back to the 1990s. Changes to the regulations will require corresponding updates to the platform, Bautista said.
“The city is updating some ordinances that date back to the 1990s to make them more relevant to current needs,” he said. “When the new zoning ordinance is finished, we will put it into the system and update it.”
The team regularly reviews the platform and adjusts it as regulations and requirements change.
Sombilon said the city must also determine how to integrate BIZ Checker into its regular operations, fund its maintenance and ensure its long-term sustainability.
“We need to institutionalize the system and integrate it into the government process. We need to plan for its sustainability, budgeting, and how it will be maintained as well,” he said.
The mentorship program also encouraged the team to consider the needs and characteristics of its intended users when designing the platform.
“We were guided in terms of knowing more about our target audience, like their personas,” Sombilon said. “It’s really important when we craft the solution to know the personas of the target audience that we want to cater to.”
The team plans to present BIZ Checker at the PLDT and Smart AI in Action Summit in November as it continues to refine the system based on lessons from the pilot. The city hopes the platform will eventually make business permitting more efficient while retaining human assistance for applicants who need further guidance.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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