City Government of BaguioBiZ Checker
AI Governance Starter Pack · v1.0

Governance, Privacy & Terms

Published by the City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO), Baguio City. This is a living document — reviewed and updated as the BiZ Checker platform evolves.

1. Executive Summary

BiZ Checker is an AI-powered zoning compliance system that lets applicants verify whether an intended business location complies with Baguio's Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) before committing capital. It eliminates the "pabalik-balik" cycle of repeat office visits.

The platform operates under a two-layer verification model: (1) AI pre-screening for instant preliminary results, and (2) mandatory human review by the CPDSO Zoning Team for every final decision. No permit is ever issued solely on AI output.

2. Terms of Service

2.1 Purpose

BiZ Checker is a digital public service operated by CPDSO to help citizens and business applicants perform preliminary zoning compliance checks.

2.2 Scope

  • Preliminary zoning compliance checks based on the CLUP.
  • Proximity alerts near schools, churches, and other regulated sites.
  • Alternative-location and alternative-business suggestions.
  • AI-assisted guidance on zoning ordinances in Tagalog and Ilocano.

The Platform does NOT issue official zoning clearances or permits, provide legally binding determinations, or replace the official CPDSO Zoning Team review.

2.3 User Responsibilities

  1. Provide accurate, truthful information (coordinates, business type).
  2. Upload only legitimate, authentic documents.
  3. Understand that AI results are preliminary — not official approval.
  4. Complete the formal application at the CPDSO office.
  5. Never rely solely on AI results for major financial decisions (e.g. signing a lease).

2.4 Governing Law

Governed by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, including RA 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012) and applicable local ordinances of the City of Baguio.

3. Data Privacy Notice

The CPDSO acts as the Personal Information Controller (PIC) for BiZ Checker in compliance with RA 10173.

3.1 Data Collected

  • Business location / coordinates — for geospatial CLUP check.
  • Business type / nature — for applicable zoning rules.
  • DTI / SEC / CDA registration documents — for legitimacy verification.
  • Submitter name, contact number, email, role — for CPDSO follow-up.

3.2 Storage & Security

  • Uploaded documents stored in a secure cloud environment.
  • Backed up on a physically secured drive accessible only to authorized CPDSO staff.
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) required for all staff access.

3.3 Retention

  • Approved applications: 10 years, dual-authorization required for deletion.
  • Rejected applications: 2 years, dual-authorization required for deletion.
  • A deletion log is maintained. Applicants are notified prior to scheduled deletion.

3.4 Your Rights (RA 10173)

Data subjects have the right to be informed, to access, to rectify, to erase/block, to object, and to file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission. To exercise these rights, contact the CPDSO Data Privacy Officer at the City Planning Office.

4. AI Public Disclosure

⚠️ Important Notice to All Users

This platform uses Artificial Intelligence to assist with zoning compliance checks. AI results are preliminary and advisory. They do not constitute an official zoning clearance or a legally binding determination.

Human review is always required. A qualified CPDSO Zoning Team member will review your application and make the final decision. The AI is a tool to help you prepare — it is not the decision-maker.

5. Human Oversight Policy

CPDSO Zoning Team staff review all applications submitted physically to the office and have full authority to override any AI recommendation. Mandatory manual review is triggered when:

  • An applicant disputes an AI preliminary result.
  • The AI produces an error, timeout, or unusual output.
  • The relevant zoning classification has recently changed or is under review.

The following are never automated: issuance of zoning clearances or business permits, final rejection without human review, legal interpretation of ordinances, and responses to formal complaints or appeals.

Anti-automation-bias reminder: Questioning the AI is not only allowed — it is expected. Professional judgment always takes precedence.

6. Responsible AI Principles

  1. Transparency — AI-generated results are always labeled.
  2. Accountability — CPDSO owns every AI-assisted decision.
  3. Fairness — the system applies the same rules to every applicant.
  4. Human oversight — a professional reviewer signs off every case.
  5. Privacy & security — RA 10173 governs all data handling.
  6. Safety & reliability — a manual fallback exists for system failure.
  7. Inclusivity & accessibility — multilingual (English / Tagalog / Ilocano) support.

7. Incident Response

CPDSO maintains procedures for data breaches, system failures, and AI-related incidents in compliance with RA 10173. A manual override procedure is documented and accessible to the CPDSO Department Head and a designated backup contact — executable without access to the AI system itself.

In the event of a system shutdown, zoning compliance checks revert to the traditional manual process: applicants are assisted directly at the CPDSO office using physical CLUP maps and ordinance documents.

BiZ Checker AI Governance Starter Pack v1.0 — Prepared June 2026, CPDSO, City Government of Baguio. This is a living document; contact the CPDSO Data Privacy Officer for the latest version.