Naga City is officially stepping into the future of urban design. Through a groundbreaking partnership with the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), the city is launching the Naga City AI Planner—a cutting-edge platform designed to transform chaotic commutes into a seamless, walkable urban experience.
Backed by a P6.79-million National Innovation Council grant, the project isn’t just about traffic; it’s a digital nervous system for the city. By fusing real-time data on transport, land use, tourism and local commerce, Naga City is leveraging artificial intelligence to build a smarter, more human-centric capital.
It uses AI image recognition and mobile data collection to automate analytics, helping local officials create evidence-based interventions for city mobility.
DEPDev Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon and Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor Robredo signed the memorandum of agreement on Jan. 31, 2-026 during a transport summit at the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology.
The initiative utilizes Seermo—a sustainable mobility solution, to help the local government and the Naga People’s Council make faster, data-driven decisions. The digital platform also allows citizens to report road crashes or illegal parking via a mobile application, which officials say will accelerate the updating of public transport routes and land use plans.
Beyond the initial funding, the DEPDev will provide regular monitoring and field evaluations to address implementation challenges. The agency also intends to promote the project as a model for other local government units to adopt AI for public service efficiency.
“We share the goal of Naga People’s Council to attain a walkable, orderly, and secure city through people-centered, evidence-based transportation planning and monitoring and evaluation,” Edillon said.
“By supporting this project, we want to raise awareness among LGUs across the country that AI can help make the delivery of their services to the people more efficient,” she said.
The application of AI in transport management aligns with the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document 2023–2028.
Officials said the project serves as a precedent for using technology to harmonize fragmented development efforts and increase public engagement in local governance.
“We want to build a dynamic innovation ecosystem through these grants, by supporting projects like this that promote multi-stakeholder collaboration,” Edillon said.
The Naga City AI City Planner is one of 11 projects approved in Nov. 2025 to receive grants of up to P7.5 million under the Philippine Innovation Act.
The DEPDev serves as the secretariat for the National Innovation Council, which evaluates these proposals annually to foster technological growth across the country.
