The City Government of Valenzuela, under the leadership of Mayor WES Gatchalian spearheaded the online launch of DotBot, an innovation project born from the cooperative partnership of the Philippines and New Zealand under the GovTech Acceleration Programme of the Creative HQ, New Zealand, February 21, 2023.

DotBot, which was presented during the Philippines – New Zealand Government Innovation Exchange Showcase held at the Multi-purpose Center of the ALERT Center in Barangay Malinta, Valenzuela City last September 13, 2022 is a user-friendly chatbot under the Facebook Messenger application which is used to know the requirements needed in applying for different social welfare services like Medical Assistance, Burial Assistance, Transportation Assistance, Social Case Study, and CSWD Certificate of Indigency prior to going to CSWD office personally for submission. Dotbot aims to help CSWDO generate a centralized database which will house all the information of the clients who will seek and avail social service assistance from the local government.

In his message during the online launch, Mayor WES said “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 CSWD Office at mabawasan ang pila dito sa munisipyo.” [One of our problems here in the city hall is the long lines, that is why I am excited to introduce you to DotBot, the latest state-of-the-art project under CSWD Office to make the transactions paperless and to lessen the queue here in the city hall.] He also encouraged the Valenzuelanos adding “inaanyayahan ko po kayong gamitin ang makabagong teknolohiya para mas maging epektibo at mabilis pa ang serbisyo ng pamahaalaang lokal.” [I am inviting everyone to use DotBot to make our services more effective and efficient.]

On the other hand, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary REX Gatchalian said “Natutuwa ako na isa sa mga proyektong naiwan ko ay mai-lalaunch na ngayon, ang pag-automate at pag-digital ng serbisyo ng pagtulong sa ating mga mamamayan. Ang mga tanong ninyo ay hindi na kailangan pang sadyain sa city hall, maitatanong ninyo na ito online para pagpunta ninyo ng city hall ay diretso processing na ng ayuda. Ang layunin natin ay gawing mabilis at abot-kamay ang pagtulong sa mga Valenzuelano.” [I am very happy that one of the projects that I left will be launched today, the automation and digitalization of the services for the citizens. Your questions will now be answered online, so that when you personally come in to the CSWD Office, your application for assistance will immediately be processed. Our goal here is to be able to help the Valenzuelanos more effeiciently.]

This application is a stepping stone for the future of paperless transactions in the city hall, and may help lessen the crowd of clients queuing in the CSWD office for assistance in application. The team also plans on linking DotBot with the city’s website, creating a database and upgrading the overall chatbot application.

Along with the launch of the DotBot application, information and queueing kiosks will also be available at different CSWD offices, as part of streamlining different CSWD services.

To access DotBot, search for DotBot-Valenzuela on Facebook or Messenger application or scan the QR code posted in different promotional materials by the City Government.

###