Mayor Vico Sotto says AI cannot account for all infrastructure factors.
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto weighed in on the use of artificial intelligence in reviewing government projects after a digital creator used ChatGPT to estimate the cost of the city’s newly completed East Bank Road improvement project.
In a July 24 Reel, basketball player-turned-policeman Julius Manalo used ChatGPT to estimate the project’s possible cost based on details from Sotto’s July 23 post, which listed the completed works and specifications.
The information provided to ChatGPT included the project’s asphalt overlay measuring 975 meters by 14.3 meters, or nearly 13,935 square meters; 620 square meters of concrete road reblocking; installation of 318 solar studs; pavement markings; and the repainting of 1.2 kilometers of concrete walls, wire mesh metal fences, and 1.6 kilometers of curbs.
Manalo did not include Sotto’s announced ₱21.9-million project cost and instead asked the chatbot, “Ano ang project cost nito kung cocomputin mo?”
ChatGPT responded, “Hindi matitiyak ang eksaktong project cost batay lang sa mga detalye.” It then provided an estimate using typical Department of Public Works and Highways and local government infrastructure costs.
The AI-generated estimate placed the project’s possible cost between ₱33 million and ₱49 million.
“Pero siyempre, batay ito sa market value. Di talaga ito sa mga direct-to-supplier, ‘yong pangmalakihang gawa na mas makakatipid ka,” Manalo said.
Manalo also said Sotto’s reported ₱21.9-million project cost could be possible because of public bidding, where contractors compete by offering reasonable prices. “Naglalabanan sila sa makatuwirang presyo. Nakikita pa rin naman sila,” he said.
He ended up thanking Sotto for his “mabuting serbisyo.”
Sotto then commented on Manalo’s video, welcoming the use of AI in examining government projects.
“Ok din pala tong naisip mo.. Pero tama rin yung disclaimers ni ChatGPT dami ring factors sa infra kaya mahirap mag-judge base sa presyo lang. Ang importante totoo yung public bidding at nababantayan ang paggawa.”
During its July 22 inauguration, the Pasig government said the East Bank Road improvement project aims to make the road safer, more accessible, and more walkable for the public.
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