PDIC launches AI chatbot POLA for faster service

Tthe Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) officially launched its AI-powered chatbot, POLA or the PDIC Online Assistant, during a ceremony at the PDIC Chino Building in Makati City on Oct. 14, 2025.

The launch marked a milestone in the PDIC’s digital transformation initiative aimed at enhancing public service delivery across the country.

Now accessible through the PDIC corporate website at www.pdic.gov.ph, POLA allows clients and stakeholders to receive real-time, user-friendly assistance anytime and anywhere.

PDIC is also set to expand POLA’s reach through Facebook Messenger via its official Facebook page to serve more Filipinos online.

Civil Service Commission (CSC) Assistant Commissioner for Professionalization and Cooperation Atty. Judith A. Dongallo-Chicano led the launch alongside PDIC President and CEO Roberto B. Tan and CSC National Capital Region Field Office Director Cesar R. Garduque Jr.

Assistant Commissioner Chicano praised the chatbot as a pioneering innovation that reflects the government’s commitment to ethical and responsive service.

“Puso sa serbisyo is that genuine desire to give efficient and effective service, that willingness to go the extra mile,” Chicano said in her keynote address.

“This is demonstrated in all the mechanisms you have in place to provide a safety net for depositors,” she added.

PDIC President Tan highlighted the chatbot as a vital bridge between innovation and public service in an increasingly digital world.

“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,” Tan said.

He assured the public that traditional service channels remain intact to support those who prefer in-person transactions.

“The PDIC Public Assistance Center continues to welcome walk-in clients to ensure that no one is left behind in our digital shift,” he said.

“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.

POLA is part of the PDIC’s enhanced Customer Handling System, a centralized platform that manages queries, service requests and complaints across multiple channels for faster, more efficient response times.

The launch coincided with the culmination of Civil Service Month and reaffirmed PDIC’s mandate to protect depositors and uphold financial stability through innovation.

“We look forward to serving our clients better, faster and smarter — not just today, but for years to come,” Tan said.