Strategic Foresight Seminar Workshop for LGUs in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental

The Critical Futures Program (CFP) of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies conducted the Strategic Foresight: AI for Local Governance seminar workshop at the Sablayan Municipal Office in Mindoro Occidental last September 17-18. The two-day seminar workshop, led by Dr. Emmanuel Lallana, was done in partnership with the Sablayan LGU under Mayor Walter “Bong” Marquez to train government workers in developing AI for local governance policy and strategy through strategic foresight tools.

The event began with an introduction to Artificial intelligence, including its definition, its subsets, applications, best practices, and failures. It was emphasized that understanding AI and its uses is critical in order to know how to properly integrate the tool within sectors of the government. The lecture highlighted the dangers of anthropomorphizing AI and explained AI’s fundamental differences with human thinking, this primarily being that artificial intelligence is designed to simulate human-like cognitive processes and that its algorithms use statistical inference, while humans use reasoning and emotions in decision making. In coming up with strategies for AI integration, the participants would need three types of thinking: (1) Futures thinking; (2) System Thinking; and (3) Exponential Thinking.

The seminar workshop then proceeded to Strategic Foresight, covering its three core methods – horizon scanning, scenario building, and backcasting. A lecture was conducted per concept followed by an activity for the participants. Participants conducted a PESTLE analysis after horizon scanning where each group was assigned to do a scan per PESTLE dimension. For the scenario building lecture, participants were tasked to do an assessment for four scenarios, namely (1) Agile & Agentic, (2) Stagnant and Fragile, (3) Shadow AI, and (4) Risk-Averse Defensive. After the backcasting lecture, participants were instructed to show scenarios in 10 years time and in 25 years time.

The training was aimed to equip government workers with an understanding of AI and skills in strategic foresight to develop a high level strategy for adoption in local governance. The event was attended by 70 people, covering participants from the LGU and various representatives across Mindoro Occidental.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Mayor Walter “Bong” Marquez and final comments and learnings on the two-day event from the invited representatives. A certificate of appreciation was then presented to Dr. Lallana in recognition of his role in facilitating the event and his continuing partnership with the Sablayan LGU.