Cotabato City—The future of governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) hinges on the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). At the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Policy Research Forum (BDPRF), stakeholders collectively urged that AI should serve as a tool for community empowerment, not exclusion.
The forum, organized by the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) in partnership with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), was held as part of the 23rd Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) celebration, adopting this year’s theme, “Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI.” It brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society, and development partners to explore how digital tools can advance governance and service delivery in the region.
In his opening remarks, BPDA Director General Mohajirin Ali emphasized that AI is already influencing day-to-day governance and urged stakeholders to ensure that its use advances inclusive development in the region.
“This year's theme speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities before us. Artificial intelligence is now part of everyday governance, shaping how decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how leaders connect with citizens,” he said.
He added that while AI offers opportunities to accelerate reforms and broaden access, it must be applied “with fairness, inclusivity, and accountability to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Echoing this call for inclusivity, PIDS President Philip Arnold Tuaño acknowledged BARMM’s progress in reducing poverty incidence from 52.6% in 2018 to 23.5% in 2023 but cautioned that persistent digital gaps may hinder communities from fully benefiting.
“Only 27.7% of households in BARMM have internet connectivity, far below the national average of 48.8%,” he noted.
Tuaño urged that this gap must be closed through expanded digital infrastructure so families can fully benefit from AI-driven governance.
Expounding on the DPRM theme, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Aubrey Tabuga's discussion highlighted AI’s potential to drive innovation across health care, finance, and education. She also warned about risks, including job displacement and the spread of misinformation.
“The most important risks flagged are job losses, especially in entry-level positions that affect our young workers,” she said.
Tabuga stressed that governance must adapt to ensure people—not just technology—remain at the center of development.
She recommended the establishment of clear AI governance frameworks and ethical guardrails, the development of high-quality and unbiased data ecosystems, investments in digital literacy and awareness to build public trust, and stronger partnerships and regional cooperation to accelerate responsible AI adoption.
The full-day event featured plenary and panel discussions that tackled global, national, and regional perspectives on AI for good governance, sectoral applications in BARMM, and strategies for strengthening digital infrastructure, citizen engagement, and legislation.
A significant highlight of the forum is the launch of the PIDS Corner at BPDA, a new public knowledge resource hub designed to provide BARMM officials and citizens seamless access to PIDS research and studies.
Watch the morning and afternoon sessions playback of the event at https://bit.ly/2ndBDPRF_AMSession and http://bit.ly/2ndBDPRF_PMSession, respectively. — MJCG
