THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) has rolled out an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot in its bid to digitalize its systems to provide faster and smarter public services.
A statement issued by the state’s deposit insurer last Wednesday read that the ‘PDIC Online Assistant,’ or ‘Pola,’ is now accessible via the PDIC website and will soon be available on Facebook Messenger to expand its reach to more users.
The chatbot-a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users-is designed to provide clients and stakeholders with real-time, accurate and user-friendly assistance, allowing them to access information anytime and anywhere, read the statement.
According to the PDIC, the chatbot forms part of the GOCC’s ‘broader’ customer handling system, a centralized platform that streamlines how the agency manages queries, requests and complaints across multiple service channels.
”Pola’ is designed to enhance our ability to respond quickly, accurately, and efficiently to public inquiries-especially as we see a growing number of tech-savvy depositors, closed bank clients, and other stakeholders engaging with us online,’ PDIC and CEO President Roberto B. Tan said during the launch on October 14.
Tan assured the public that while PDIC is embracing digitalization, traditional service channels remain intact.
The PDIC Public Assistance Center will continue to cater to walk-in clients who prefer in-person assistance to ensure that ‘no one is left behind’ in the agency’s modernization efforts.
‘Regardless of the channel-online or face-to-face-our commitment remains the same: timely, accurate, and personalized service for every Filipino we serve,’ Tan added.
In her keynote message, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Assistant Commissioner Judith A. Dongallo-Chicano lauded the initiative, commending PDIC for leveraging technology to uphold the principle that public office is a public trust.
‘Puso sa serbisyo is that genuine desire to give efficient and effective service, that willingness to go the extra mile. This is demonstrated in all the mechanisms you have in place to provide a safety net for depositors,’ Chicano, a lawyer, added.
The PDIC said the launch of ‘Pola’ also came as the ‘Civil Service Month’ drew to a close, aligning with its broader efforts to improve service delivery through digital innovation.
‘We look forward to serving our clients better, faster and smarter-not just today, but for years to come,’ Tan added.