Mayor keen on adopting AI-controlled traffic system

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has welcomed the proposal of adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in its traffic system as the city bids to become a smart city.

The proposal was made by Councilor Rey Gealon, the Traffic Management Committee chairperson.

Rama, in his own online program through the city’s Sugboanon channel, emphasized that the world is now adapting AI and it’s the way to go to level up.

“The world today is now highly AI, artificial intelligence,” Rama said.

As such, there is also no reason why the City of Cebu will not adopt it.

“There is no reason why dili ta mo-adopt ana. Mo-adopt gyud ta,” Rama said, referring to the suggestion of Gealon to adopt a traffic light system that uses AI to manage the flow of vehicles in city streets.

Earlier, Gealon said that the use of AI would greatly benefit Filipinos, in general, and the Cebuanos, in particular.

This is expected to improve the traffic situation and would save time, allowing for a smoother transportation, Gealon through a City Council resolution disclosed.

Last week, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), the city’s joint venture partner at the 40-hectare City di Mare (CDM) at South Road Properties (SRP) had also disclosed that they are installing an AI-backed traffic control system.

FLI’s Engr. Gwen Sala said the AI-controlled lighting system will allow a seamless flow of traffic between CDM and Cebu South Coastal Road by mid-February.

Rama said the idea to adopt an AI-driven traffic control system for the entire city is also in line with his thrust for Cebu City to become a Smart City.

“Putting it all together, we are now online. Seamless, connectivity, digitalization, outsourcing …without having to forget, the thrust of our national government, which is right-sizing and downsizing,” Rama said.

“When the city becomes very smart, what does it mean, economically we are very up, progressive and productive,” added Rama.

As he often says, the city should keep up with the rest and not remain “Jurassic” referring to old times and wants to look forward. (CEBU NEWS)