Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful ally in exposing corruption, but without integrity, accountability, and political will, it will never be enough.
This was the central message of experts and former Philippine public officials at the 11th Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC) in Manila organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
Speakers highlighted both the promise and perils of AI in governance and agreed that algorithms may detect patterns of fraud and misuse, but only human integrity and strong institutions can effectively close the loop on accountability.
Dr. Jacopo Costa, senior specialist at the Basel Institute on Governance, described AI as both a frontier and a warning.
He explained that AI’s real strength lies in processing large volumes of data, detecting hidden patterns, and helping investigators uncover red flags in financial records, procurement, and public spending.
His team, for example, has developed BaselAI, a case analysis tool, and participates in the Horizon Europe FALCON project, which flags risks in procurement and border activities. He also highlighted how AI can be used in training programs and open-source intelligence to support law enforcement and watchdog groups.
However, former Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza said that while AI can detect anomalies, the Philippines lacks the basic data infrastructure to make such tools effective.
“Corruption is limitless. It is only limited by the bounds of our imagination,” she said.
“Yes, there is no debate in terms of the advantages of using AI in the fight against corruption. But in the Philippines, it is as basic as the culture of silence and the over-compromised oversight system,” she added.
Drawing on her experience in COA and the United Nations, Mendoza also pointed to outdated systems, fragmented data, and missed opportunities, such as the delayed rollout of the Government Integrated Financial Management System.
In his video message, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong highlighted AI’s potential in identifying anomalous transactions and detecting risky patterns.
Still, he underscored the need for political will, ethical standards, and investments in digital infrastructure.
“AI will not replace integrity, but it can augment and strengthen our collective fight against corruption,” Magalong said.
Gaps in health systems
Meanwhile, AI and aging experts in the same event projected the Philippines to become an aging society by 2030. But they warned that inadequate support systems, such as weak healthcare, limited pensions, and low digital literacy, risk leaving millions of older Filipinos vulnerable.
“The Philippines is aging before it becomes economically affluent,” warned Dr. Grace Cruz of the UP Population Institute.
Findings from the “Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in the Philippines” reveal that older Filipinos have fragile and informal sources of support: six in ten rely on their children, 54% on pensions, only one in four earn from work due to low employment rates, and 18% receive remittances from abroad.
Limited financial security compounds health risks, with 69% of older persons having hypertension and half of them untreated. Care work also falls disproportionately on women, 83% of whom serve as primary caregivers, often without formal training.
These challenges are further magnified by the digital divide: “Only 6% of older persons use the internet, compared to 43% of the general population,” Cruz said, leaving many excluded from digital services and opportunities.
Without intervention, she said, these gaps will erode quality of life.
“Let’s turn longevity into a silver dividend by investing in health programs, data, technology, and governance,” she stressed.
Dr. Shelley Ann de la Vega, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of the Philippines Manila–National Institutes of Health, warned that many older Filipinos are facing isolation, poor quality of life, and high rates of sleep disorders, depression, and cognitive impairment—with nearly one in four at risk for dementia.
The healthcare system is ill-equipped to respond. “Only 52% of hospitals offered comprehensive geriatric assessment,” de la Vega said, noting that there are only 155 board-certified geriatricians, mostly in Metro Manila.
Mental health services remain scarce, particularly in rural areas and outside urban centers, she added.
To bridge these gaps, De la Vega pointed to “Gerontechnology”, a technology specially designed to support older adults in their daily lives and healthcare.
These range from simple yet vital tools, such as blood pressure monitors, wearables, and pill dispensers, to advanced systems, including telehealth platforms and virtual reality therapies for dementia patients. Even mobility aids and social apps fall under this category.
Still, she emphasized, “technology alone will not suffice.” Policymakers must establish a national long-term care insurance program, pursue retirement reforms, and expand digital literacy programs.
“More research is needed: a unified agenda, more funding, research harmonization, and human resource development for aging research,” she added, stressing that evidence-based action must guide policy.
Strengthening healthcare also requires stronger data management, said Angely Garcia, research assistant professor, National Institutes of Health. According to her, older persons’ medical records are often complex, involving multiple illnesses, medications, and providers.
“Data governance is crucial for informing policy, guiding healthcare providers, maximizing the benefits of collected data, and determining accountability and processes,” she said.
Garcia pointed to opportunities of AI, such as neural network modeling for early detection of Parkinson’s disease, decision-support tools for clinicians, and systems that improve chronic disease management.
To move forward, Garcia called for embedding core principles into national standards: “protecting people, promoting health value and equity, investing in AI infrastructure and digital literacy, ensuring ethical AI development and deployment, and maintaining fairness, transparency, and human oversight.”
