NAGA CITY, Philippines — In a significant move toward modernizing public safety and city management, Mayor Leni Robredo officially launched Naga’s AI Command Center during the Naga City Innovators Assembly. Developed by the Philippine-based AIRA Labs, the platform is designed to serve as a central artificial intelligence system for enhancing public safety, disaster response, traffic management, and real-time digital governance in Naga City. The initiative signals a strategic shift from purely reactive crisis response toward predictive and intelligence-assisted governance, positioning Naga City as one of the local governments preparing early for advanced AI-enabled systems by 2026. Currently in a pre-deployment and pilot scoping phase, the City Government of Naga and AIRA Labs are working together to assess data readiness, scope priority City Hall offices, and define initial use cases ahead of phased implementation. “In partnership with AIRA Labs AI, Naga is building a hyper-intelligent city using an AI-enhanced command center. The system’s strength is its ability to detect data patterns, forecast potential risks before they become emergencies, and suggest preventive actions,” said Mayor Robredo, detailing the city’s vision for the platform. The AIRA AI Command Center is an LGU-specific AI platform engineered to tackle real-world operational issues often faced by Philippine cities, such as localized flooding, traffic congestion, and communications disruptions during typhoons.   Del Val, co-founder of AIRA Labs, noted that while global discussions often focus on “Smart Cities” in theory, Philippine LGUs are dealing with practical, immediate challenges. He described the platform as a move toward a “Hyper-Intelligent City,” aiming for capabilities beyond standard smart city designations. The system is powered by the proprietary AIRANET Core, which reportedly integrates local infrastructure, leverages AI to interpret radio broadcasts, and can remotely control critical infrastructure. Notably, the AI models are trained to understand local dialects—Tagalog, Bicolano-Naga, and Bisaya—to ensure highly localized and accurate reporting. Furthermore, Jason Dela Rosa, the principal architect and chief systems developer behind AIRA, explained that the platform functions by integrating various Philippine emergency realities with advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to learn, predict, and evolve in real time. During the pre-work phase, two priority applications are being scoped: the development of an AI-assisted triage system for MyNaga App reports to improve how citizen concerns are classified, routed, and monitored across City Hall offices; and AI-powered analytics for city procurement data, aimed at strengthening transparency, identifying patterns, and supporting oversight. These use cases are intended to address immediate operational needs while allowing the city to test AI systems responsibly before broader rollout. Once fully operational, the AIRA AI Command Center enables Naga City to forecast flood risks using Vulnerability Modeling, detect traffic and crime patterns, and convert raw field data into high-level, real-time operational intelligence within seconds. This capability aims to improve the city’s overall readiness, including for climate mobility and security risks, by 2026. AIRA Labs also maintains a strong commitment to data sovereignty, ensuring that LGUs retain full ownership and control over their operational intelligence, which they deem a critical element of national security.

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines  — To streamline the harvesting and transport of agricultural produce, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol Corn and Cassava Program officially turned over five hauling vehicles worth a total of ₱13 million to various Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) on December 18, 2025. The distribution, held at the DA Regional Field Office 5, aims to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the logistical capabilities of local farmers. Each hauling truck is valued at ₱2.6 million. List of Beneficiaries The five recipient organizations represent different provinces across the Bicol region: Camarines Norte: Daet Corn Growers Association, Inc. Albay: Pioduran Corn Cluster Organization and Tula-Tula Pequeño Farmers Agriculture Cooperative. Camarines Sur: Del Rosario Corn Farmer’s Association (DELROSCOFA). Catanduanes: Pandan Cassava Growers and Processors Federation. Leadership and Support The turnover ceremony was led by DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla. He was joined by key officials, including OIC Regional Technical Director for Operations Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriguez, Regional Corn and Cassava Program Coordinator Engr. Amabel N. Bombase, and Regional Agricultural Engineering Division Chief Engr. Jerry A. Eboña. According to the DA, these vehicles are part of a broader commitment to modernize the corn and cassava industries, ensuring that farmers can bring their goods to market more efficiently and at lower costs. (Courtesy Albay TV)    

NAGA CITY, Philippines — The City Government of Naga is preparing the MyNaga App for its next stage of development as it moves toward wider adoption and potential replication by other local governments. Through its continued partnership with Akkord Smart Cities, a startup incubated by Easybus PH—the team behind MyNaga’s initial launch, the city is laying the groundwork for higher user volume, broader service offerings, and wider community participation. With more than 32,000 downloads and over 22,000 active users, MyNaga is now the largest digital platform for citizen feedback and service delivery in the Bicol Region. Since its launch, residents have flooded the platform with over 3,300 cases, addressing critical, everyday concerns that immediately shape the city’s priorities—from uncollected garbage and street lighting defects to public safety incidents and illegal parking. The data reveals that the most proactive communities, including Concepcion Pequeña, Tinago, Cararayan, Pacol, and San Felipe, have submitted the highest volume of cases in recent months. During the Innovators Assembly held on Friday, November 28, Mayor Leni Robredo noted how MyNaga’s growth is beginning to draw attention from across the country, with multiple visitors from different LGUs seeking to benchmark its system. “We are proud that MyNaga is evolving from a city innovation into a national template for participatory, digital governance,” the mayor said as she noted that the ongoing collaboration with Akkord Smart Cities supports the platform’s continued refinement as it scales. Akkord’s 2026 roadmap details how MyNaga will transition from a pilot initiative into a citywide digital service. The city is now focused on upgrading the app’s internal systems in coordination with Artemis Intelligence and the City Government’s technology teams. The work includes optimizing performance, strengthening data security, and ensuring that the platform remains stable as usage expands. Akkord Smart Cities CEO Andrew Mendoza recalled how MyNaga quickly became a practical tool for civic engagement, noting the first report was resolved within 36 hours of the app’s launch and the steady rise of submissions afterwards. “Naga City has set a new standard for governance—governance that is not just good, but smart and people-driven,” he said. Looking ahead, the city aims to increase MyNaga adoption to at least half of Naga’s population by the end of 2026. Upcoming features will support this target by expanding tools for civic engagement, bringing digital and hybrid services to barangays, improving access for non-connected residents through offline-capable options, and introducing community-focused features such as forums, event listings, and local business directories. Mayor Robredo described MyNaga as part of a broader governance shift. “What we are creating is a digital environment that integrates transparency, efficiency, and participation across every aspect of governance,” she said. As MyNaga reports continue to rise, the City is taking steps to improve response times and reduce delays. The MyNaga Task Force has been expanded and more barangays have been onboarded to share verification and on-site response. The City is also studying the creation of a dedicated stockpile warehouse for materials needed in quick repairs, so fixes are not slowed by procurement or supply gaps. City Hall offices and barangays are now working together to clear backlogs and manage high-volume concerns. The City asks for the patience of residents as these improvements take effect, and encourage continued reporting as feedback guides where MyNaga App needs to do better.

NAGA CITY, Philippines — Mayor Leni Robredo is calling for a meeting among the LGU’s Public Safety Office, the Naga City Police Office, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Naga, and the office of City Councilor Ramon Melvin Buenafe, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Transport, to address issues on e-trike registration and designated routes in the city. The proposed meeting aims to enable the LGU and national agencies to craft a unified policy on the operation and movement of e-trikes on city roads. This initiative comes after the LTO issued a directive prohibiting e-trikes from operating along highways and major roads—a provision that is now seen as necessary for inclusion in a pending city ordinance being endorsed by City Councilor Buenafe. “We just do not want a messy implementation of any directive from the government regarding e-trike mobility. We also need to establish clear regulations, such as determining what kind or type of e-trike shall be allowed on specific roads, because proper enforcement is necessary,” Robredo said during a press conference. Among the policy areas requiring clarification are the operation of e-trikes on barangay roads versus city roads, as well as applicable speed limits and the types of e-trikes permitted in particular areas. Currently, the LTO in Naga prohibits e-trikes from using the Maharlika Highway and warns that violators will be penalized. I via Jason Neola          

NAGA CITY, Philippines — Naga City is undertaking a strategic digital audit with global firm Artemis Intelligence to strengthen its governance foundations and scale innovation across public services. The initiative positions Naga as a model for ASEAN cities embracing inclusive digital transformation. Mayor Leni Robredo, in her remarks during the Innovators Assembly on Friday, November 28, emphasized that the city’s digital transformation is rooted in people and processes, not technology alone. “MyNaga App’s success is not just a tech story; it is a story of City Hall personnel working together, delivering solutions quickly and consistently.”   Artemis Intelligence is working closely with LGU IT leaders to map the systems that deliver services under the Naga City Citizens Charter, including those built internally and those interfacing with platforms like the MyNaga App. The audit zeroes in on the most critical systems to ensure improvements translate into faster, more transparent, and more inclusive services. By advancing Naga’s ISSP priorities for 2025, Artemis is aligning the city’s digital infrastructure with citizen needs and laying the foundation for scalable innovation and participatory governance well beyond 2025. Artemis CEO Michael Glaros reinforced the city’s vision: “Smart cities succeed when technology empowers people. Naga City is taking bold steps to future-proof its governance, launching a digital readiness audit with Artemis Intelligence to ensure citizens benefit from smarter, more transparent, and participatory services. The initiative positions Naga as a model for ASEAN cities embracing inclusive digital transformation.” The audit prioritizes systemic blockers observed in enterprise AI deployments, from legacy integration to governance complexity and scale friction. By tackling these challenges head-on, Artemis is helping Naga build agent-ready infrastructure that supports not only the MyNaga App but also future digital solutions requiring secure, explainable, and citizen-aligned AI capabilities. Conducted through a KPI-driven methodology, the audit includes document reviews, interviews, benchmarking, and a two-day multi-sector workshop. Representatives from government offices, academe, private sector, and civil society will participate in perception scoring, KPI validation, and consensus building to determine Naga’s digital maturity scores. By strengthening digital governance, Naga City is laying out the foundation for scalable innovation, inclusive participation, and resilient service delivery. The city invites partners and residents alike to join this journey toward a smarter, more accountable future.

By Jason B. Neola   NAGA CITY, Philippines — Mayor Leni Robredo expressed the heartfelt gratitude of the City Government of Naga and its people to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) with LDS Naga-Philippine Stake President Michael Diaz for donating P8 million worth of medical equipment intended for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Naga City General Hospital (NCGH). Robredo said the city is grateful not only for the essential medical apparatuses but also for the enduring legacy of compassion and service that LDS members continue to share with communities across the country. “What is highly commendable is the act of genuine generosity and compassion, which bring hope and inspiration, especially to those who are downtrodden and destitute,” the mayor said. During the turnover and acceptance ceremony, the mayor recalled the Church’s vital partnership with the Angat Buhay Foundation during her tenure as congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s third district—a collaboration that continues today with her leadership in Naga City. In her Saturday morning radio program “Oras ni Mayor” over DWIZ, Robredo also thanked NCGH chief of hospital Dr. Joseph Sanchez and assistant chief Dr. Jamela Mangente, who led the hospital’s efforts to secure the specialized NICU equipment. The donated items are essential in providing life-saving care for premature and critically ill newborns. These include: Radiant warmers (5 units), which provide controlled heat to keep newborns warm immediately after birth or during procedures while allowing easy access for medical staff. Incubators (3 units), enclosed and temperature-regulated chambers that maintain body heat and humidity for premature or sick infants who need stable environmental support. Neonatal patient monitors (8 units) that continuously track vital signs—heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure—and alert staff when readings fall outside safe levels. A central monitor (1 unit), enabling nurses and physicians to view and integrate vital signs from multiple infants at once, allowing faster response to emergencies. Phototherapy lamps (3 units), which emit blue-spectrum light to break down excess bilirubin in infants with jaundice, making it easier for their bodies to eliminate. Kangaroo care phototherapy blankets (2 units), flexible light-emitting pads that allow babies to receive jaundice treatment while being held in comforting skin-to-skin contact with their parents. Suction machines (9 units), which clear mucus and secretions from a newborn’s airway to prevent obstruction and support easier breathing. Robredo said the equipment will significantly improve the NCGH’s ability to care for its tiniest and most vulnerable patients, describing the donation as a “blessing that will save lives and uplift families for many years to come.”

By Christine Kim Villafuerte   NAGA CITY, Philippines — To better equip its department heads and leaders with strategic leadership skills, the City Government of Naga conducted a Completed Staff Work (CSW) training on November 13, 2025. CSW is a management mechanism that requires staff to create well-prepared reports to help leaders understand problems quickly and make decisions. Participated in by 56 department heads, leaders, and representatives, the training aims to strengthen Naga City Hall’s CSW, starting from the basic steps, techniques and leadership core values. As noted by Sieg Borromeo, the Transition Team’s HR designate, this initiative addresses the need for departments to adhere to the same processes, expectations, and methods when preparing reports and assignments for Mayor Leni Robredo and the city’s executive management committees. According to Mayor Leni Robredo, she saw the importance of CSW during her vice presidency, where solutions were already prepared by the time someone came forward for help. Borromeo said that the training is expected to benefit Nagueños by making city operations more efficient, solution-oriented and results-driven. “Instead of presenting raw problems to the mayor, departments will now present options. That means faster decisions and more time for Mayor Leni to focus on strategic, long-term work for Naga,” she said. The session was led by Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chief Human Resources Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, Retired PCOL Alexander M. Arevalo, and Sieg Borromeo, at the 2nd Floor of PAGCOR Building in Balatas, Naga City.      

By Jason B. Neola   NAGA CITY, Philippines — Naga’s Incident Management Team (IMT) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) have conducted a post-evaluation and assessment of their preparations and operations before, during, and after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan on November 8–9, 2025. Acting City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (DRRMO) Raynor Rodriguez said the activity aimed to identify areas for improvement in the city government’s disaster preparedness and response strategies for future typhoons. During the evaluation, IMT and EOC members noted a shortage of responders and volunteers at the height of the typhoon. Despite the limited manpower, Rodriguez said all aspects of operations were managed efficiently due to coordination among teams and the cooperation of residents. Some volunteers, however, failed to report for duty until the second day of the calamity. The assessment covered several key operations, including the distribution of food and relief goods, the condition and suitability of the Sta. Cruz Evacuation Center—which needs retrofitting to better serve as a temporary shelter—the responsiveness of residents during pre-emptive evacuations, camp management in evacuation centers, and the deployment of emergency vehicles to assist stranded passengers. In its overall findings, the EOC and IMT concluded that the city government performed commendably in ensuring the safety and security of the public throughout the disaster. Among the recommendations raised was to prioritize the safety and accommodation of evacuees over the allocation of parking spaces for vehicles, citing the situation at the second floor of the Naga City People’s Mall evacuation site. The teams also emphasized that only one Incident Management Team should operate under the Incident Command System (ICS) to maintain unified command and coordination. Because of the city’s timely and well-coordinated operations—along with the cooperation of residents—Naga recorded zero casualties during the typhoon. A total of 7,388 families or 27,297 individuals sought shelter in various evacuation centers across the city.  

By Maida Boragay   NAGA CITY, Philippines — While affirming that city government properties sustained minimal damage from the recent Super Typhoon Uwan, Mayor Leni Robredo revealed critical gaps in disaster preparedness, particularly concerning the structural integrity of designated evacuation centers. Robredo highlighted that widespread preparations were unexpectedly challenged by design flaws in facilities meant to shelter the public. “Grabe preparation ta pero dae ta napagpreparan na si iba tang mga evacuation centers. Pag makusog ang duros, lalaugon ning tubig,” Mayor Robredo said in a press conference, noting a critical realization during the disaster response. The most immediate concern cited was the People’s Hall at the Naga City Hall. Evacuees housed there were “soaked” by the water that seeped in. To remedy the situation, the Mayor’s Office and the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod were promptly opened to serve as temporary, dryer shelters for those displaced. A similar issue was observed at the Sta. Cruz Evacuation and Event Center, where a structural opening became an entry point for water, leading to leaks and subsequent relocation of evacuees. Mayor Robredo admitted that the city takes responsibility for the inconvenience caused. Despite the infrastructure setbacks, the Mayor commended the swift and complete assistance from the education sector, “Mapasalamat man kita sa mga eskwelahan si DEpED 100% si tabang,” she noted. Private schools like Mariners Polytechnic Colleges and Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) also opened their doors. These challenges ultimately pivoted to a crucial priority: the urgent need to address the shortage and structural inadequacies of the city’s evacuation facilities. The Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, for instance, which was used for shelter, was never intended to be an evacuation center. While it was fortunate that the water did not rise there, the mayor acknowledged the immediate need for action. A key realization, Robredo highlighted, is that the city simply lacks sufficient and appropriate evacuation centers. “We really need to complete the retrofitting within the year 2026,” Mayor Robredo declared, identifying facilities like the People’s Hall—which is not designed for comfort as a long-term shelter—as top priorities for development and structural upgrade. This underscores the city’s commitment to transforming emergency response lessons into long-term infrastructure development and improved disaster resilience.