AI-supported Blue Economy Planning for Municipalities

Course Overview

The Philippines, as an archipelagic nation, holds vast potential in the Blue Economy—sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and freshwater resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health. City and municipal planners are at the frontlines of integrating blue economy principles into local development plans.

This course equips planners with the knowledge, tools, and hands-on practice to design real-world municipal Blue Economy programs. It combines online lectures (theory, frameworks, AI tools) with practical planning exercises (using local datasets, stakeholder consultations, and municipal project design).

Course Objectives

The course produces modular outputs that:

1. Directly feed into CDP/CLUP/LDIP/AIP sections (situationer, goals, strategies, PPAs, project profiles, annexes).

2. Operationalize the 7 Plays of the Mayor’s Blue Economy Playbook—ensuring LGUs produce actionable, politically relevant deliverables.

By the end, LGUs will have a “Blue Economy Integration Portfolio”: a ready-to-adopt set of CDP chapters/annexes and playbook-aligned projects.

Course Modules with Outputs (Aligned to Mayor's Playbook for the Blue Economy)

Module 1: Situational Analysis & Policy Scan (Play 1 – Policy & Governance Framework)

• Content: Blue Economy concepts; Philippine policy frameworks.

• AI Exercise: Generate a baseline policy scan from LGU ordinances and national mandates.

• Outputs:

  • CDP/CLUP Blue Economy Situational Analysis section.

  • Draft Marine Zoning Map & Ordinance Outline (aligns with Play 1’s marine spatial planning).

Module 2: Community Engagement & Education (Play 2 – Community Engagement)

• Content: Stakeholder mapping; social prep; education strategies.

• AI Exercise: Use AI to generate consultation scripts and education campaign plans.

• Outputs:

  • Stakeholder Engagement Plan (CDP annex).

  • Draft Community Engagement Program (e.g., school curriculum integration, town hall design, IEC materials).

Module 3: Sustainable Livelihoods (Play 3 – Sustainable Livelihood Development)

• Content: Fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism, value chains.

• AI Exercise: Scenario modeling of alternative livelihood impacts (e.g., tourism vs. fisheries).

• Outputs:

  • CDP Economic Sector Blue Economy Livelihood Strategy Section.

  • Livelihood Program Concepts:

    • Sustainable fisheries toolkit

    • Aquaculture pilot project

    • Ecotourism concept notes

Module 4: Infrastructure & Innovation (Play 4 – Infrastructure Development & Innovation)

• Content: Fish landing centers, cold storage, renewable energy, waste systems, GIS apps.

• AI Exercise: Use AI + QGIS to design infrastructure investment maps.

• Outputs:

  • Infrastructure Project Profiles for LDIP/AIP (fish landing centers, renewable energy systems, waste facilities).

  • Innovation Project Concepts (apps, GIS monitoring systems).

Module 5: Conservation & Climate Resilience (Play 5 – Conservation & Resilience)

• Content: MPAs, mangroves, coral restoration, DRRM.

• AI Exercise: AI-generated hazard maps and ecosystem service valuation.

• Outputs:

  • Conservation and Resilience Subsection in CDP Environment Sector.

  • Project Profiles for MPAs, mangrove reforestation, coral reef rehab, disaster preparedness programs.

Module 6: Public-Private Partnerships (Play 6 – PPPs)

• Content: Structuring PPPs; forums; financing.

• AI Exercise: Generate partnership agreements and investment pitches with AI.

• Outputs:

  • Partnership & Financing Plan for Blue Economy projects.

  • Draft TOR for a Local Blue Economy Forum/Task Force.

Module 7: Data & Technology Integration (Play 7 – Data & Tech Integration)

• Content: GIS, AI monitoring, real-time reporting, innovation hubs.

• AI Exercise: Prototype a simple dashboard using open-source or AI-supported platforms.

• Outputs:

  • Data & Technology Integration Plan (CDP/CLUP annex).

  • GIS Layers (marine spatial planning, MPAs, hazard overlays).

  • Draft Concept for University-LGU Innovation Hub.

Module 8: Capstone Integration (All 7 Plays)

• Content: Consolidation and presentation.

• AI Exercise: Compile all module outputs into a polished plan with AI editing support.

• Outputs:

  • Draft Blue Economy Chapter/Annex for CDP/CLUP.

  • Mayor’s Playbook-Aligned Blue Economy Portfolio (7 Plays → LGU projects, ordinances, strategies).

Final Deliverable

Each participating LGU exits the program with:

• A CDP/CLUP-integrated Blue Economy Chapter.

• A Playbook-aligned Portfolio covering:

  1. Policy/ordinances (Play 1)

  2. Community engagement program (Play 2)

  3. Livelihood projects (Play 3)

  4. Infrastructure/innovation projects (Play 4)

  5. Conservation/resilience initiatives (Play 5)

  6. PPP framework & forum (Play 6)

  7. Data & technology integration plan (Play 7)