FILE PHOTO: Valenzuela City launches ‘DotBot,’ to expedite locals’ social welfare services application INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Valenzuela has launched “DotBot,” a Facebook messenger chatbot that will expedite the application and process for social welfare services within the area.
DotBot is an innovation project built from the joint collaboration of the Philippines and New Zealand under the latter’s GovTech Acceleration Programme of the Creative HQ.
“Isa po sa suliranin natin dito sa city hall ay ang mahabang mga pila, kaya naman po pinapakilala ko sa inyo si DotBot, ang bagong state-of-the-art project natin sa CSWD Office para maging paperless na ang CSWDO (City Social Welfare and Development Office) at mabawasan ang pila dito sa munisipyo,” Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said in a statement issued Tuesday.
(One of our problems here in the city hall is the long lines, so I am excited to introduce you to DotBot, the latest state-of-the-art project under CSWD Office to make the transactions paperless and lessen the queue here in the city hall.)
DotBot was introduced at the Philippines – New Zealand Government Innovation Exchange Showcase held in Malinta, Valenzuela City, on September 13 last year.
It will help applicants determine their requirements when applying for medical, burial, and transportation assistance, including social case study and Certificate of Indigency, before going to CSWDO for in-person submission.
The statement said it aims to aid CSWDO generate a centralized database that will house all the information of the clients it will cater to.
“Inaanyayahan ko po kayong gamitin ang makabagong teknolohiya para mas maging epektibo at mabilis pa ang serbisyo ng pamahaalaang lokal,” said Gatchalian.
(I invite everyone to use DotBot to make our services more effective and efficient.)
DotBot is accessible on Facebook, Messenger, or the QR code posted on the city government’s social media pages.