The local government of Valenzuela City launched its first ever “Tech-talk: Valenzuela Digital Summit 2024” and introduced new applications for its residents on Wednesday, May 22.
The event was held at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) - Maysan campus.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Office of the Building Official for the Val-U app.
During the summit, the city government also unveiled the city’s applications that aim to promote good governance and digitalization.
The first application, the V-Alert button app, is an all-in-one emergency and rescue assistance application that offers immediate response from ambulances, fire stations, police, women and child protection, animal rescue, traffic management and waste management.
The city government said that the assistance app makes the city services quicker and more accessible to residents. To get the app, residents must download the V-Alert application from the app store for apple users or through the google play store. Then, they should open the app and prepare a valid ID for verification, individuals must provide all the requested information to complete the registration.
The city government emphasized that registration is a one-time process, once verified and approved, residents can log-in and report an alert any time.
To report, users select the required rescue or assistance from the menu and provide detailed information about the situation, including the exact location. After submitting the report, individuals must wait for the team’s response and they can check the status within the app.
In addition, the V-Alert app provides extra resources such as emergency hotlines, weather and traffic updates, city ordinances and more.
Meanwhile, the city government updated the DotBot app, it is a messaging system designed to streamline service delivery to the residents through the Facebook messenger app.
Individuals can easily find out the requirements and the nearest locations to apply for medical, financial, burial assistance and more.
The Val-U, or Electronic Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (E-CFEI), is the city's pioneering online utility platform, representing one of the new initiatives launched by the local government. It can be obtained from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) at the city hall.
This system enables residents to apply online without leaving their homes, they simply need to visit www.valenzuela.gov.ph, click on the online OBO, and select the E-CFEI service. Applicants must provide the required information and upload the necessary documents.
It added that applicants should save their claim stub as proof of their application. They will receive an email notification regarding the status of their application and must follow the instructions provided in the email.
Upon approval, applicants will receive a QR code along with other requirements. They can then proceed to Meralco to have their meter installed. After submitting and paying the meter deposit or service fee, residents must wait for Meralco to complete the installation of their meter.
In his speech, Gatchalian said that those belonging to Generation Z were born with the powerful digital tools that will help improve the quality of governance in the city.
“Alam niyo po, kung nagtataka kayo kung bakit natin ginawa dito sa PLV ang ating first-ever Tech Talk, because I believe na kayong mga gen Z's are born into a world already online and equipped with powerful digital tools (You know, if you're wondering why we organized our first-ever Tech Talk here at PLV, it's because I believe that you, as Gen Zs, are born into a world that's already online and equipped with powerful digital tools),” he said.
“We want to engage the Gen Z, we’re ready to listen and you want you to discuss and gamitin po ito ng mga new innovations natin para Makita natin ang result nitong mga ginawa natin apps (We want to engage Generation Z. We're ready to listen and discuss, and we want to use our new innovations to see the results of the apps we've created),” he added.
He added that he believes that the Gen Zs can also be a part of the solution of the local government to adapt to the evolution of technology.
“I believe that you can be part of the solution by being part of the evolution, kayong mga Gen Z will help us craft a better service using technology. We believe na marami pa kaming kailangan matutunan, kami po sa lokal na pamahalaan marami pang kailangan iimprove. And as long as technology keeps on evolving and evolving we know that we have to keep on adapting and adapting and adapting (I believe that you can be part of the solution by being part of the evolution. You, Gen Z, will help us craft better services using technology. We believe that we still have much to learn; here in the local government, there's much more we need to improve. As long as technology keeps evolving, we know we have to keep adapting and adapting),” he said.