diff --git a/.github/workflows/db-update-dev.yml b/.github/workflows/db-update-dev.yml
index 426f51470..c0c88d9e4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/db-update-dev.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/db-update-dev.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Update the Mobility Database Schema
-name: Dev Database Update
+name: Database Update - DEV
 on:
   push: # Update on merge on master if the changelog file has been updated
     branches:
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       PROJECT_ID: ${{ vars.DEV_MOBILITY_FEEDS_PROJECT_ID }}
       DB_NAME: ${{ vars.DEV_POSTGRE_SQL_DB_NAME }}
       REGION: ${{ vars.DEV_MOBILITY_FEEDS_REGION }}
-      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || false }}
+      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || 'true' }}
     secrets:
       DB_USER_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DEV_POSTGRE_USER_PASSWORD }}
       DB_USER_NAME: ${{ secrets.DEV_POSTGRE_USER_NAME }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/db-update-prod.yml b/.github/workflows/db-update-prod.yml
index 4d4c680cc..4aa1fd6e0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/db-update-prod.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/db-update-prod.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Update the Mobility Database Schema
-name: PROD Database Update
+name: Database Update - PROD
 on:
   release: # Update on merge on master if the changelog file has been updated
     paths:
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
       PROJECT_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_MOBILITY_FEEDS_PROJECT_ID }}
       DB_NAME: ${{ vars.PROD_POSTGRE_SQL_DB_NAME }}
       REGION: ${{ vars.PROD_MOBILITY_FEEDS_REGION }}
-      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || false }}
+      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || 'false' }}
     secrets:
       DB_USER_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_POSTGRE_USER_PASSWORD }}
       DB_USER_NAME: ${{ secrets.PROD_POSTGRE_USER_NAME }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/db-update-qa.yml b/.github/workflows/db-update-qa.yml
index 0493c8fa7..05e6bdb85 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/db-update-qa.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/db-update-qa.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Update the Mobility Database Schema
-name: QA Database Update
+name: Database Update - QA
 on:
   push: # Update on merge on main branch if the changelog file has been updated
     branches:
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       PROJECT_ID: ${{ vars.QA_MOBILITY_FEEDS_PROJECT_ID }}
       DB_NAME: ${{ vars.QA_POSTGRE_SQL_DB_NAME }}
       REGION: ${{ vars.QA_MOBILITY_FEEDS_REGION }}
-      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || true }}
+      RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT: ${{ github.event.inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT || 'true' }}
     secrets:
       DB_USER_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.QA_POSTGRE_USER_PASSWORD }}
       DB_USER_NAME: ${{ secrets.QA_POSTGRE_USER_NAME }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/db-update.yml b/.github/workflows/db-update.yml
index 315f51aa9..f695561a6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/db-update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/db-update.yml
@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ on:
         description: PostgreSQL Database Name
         required: true
         type: string
+#        TODO: remove this parameter once the populate script is no longer needed
       RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT:
         description: Option to run the script that populates the database
         required: false
-        default: false
-        type: boolean
+        default: 'false'
+        type: string
       REGION:
         description: GCP region
         required: true
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ jobs:
         url: 'jdbc:postgresql://${{ env.DB_IP }}:5432/${{ inputs.DB_NAME }}'
 
     - name: Clear content of the database
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       uses: liquibase-github-actions/update@v4.23.0
       with:
         classpath: 'liquibase'
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
         url: 'jdbc:postgresql://${{ env.DB_IP }}:5432/${{ inputs.DB_NAME }}'
 
     - name: Setup python
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       uses: actions/setup-python@v4
       with:
         python-version: '3.9'
@@ -94,11 +95,11 @@ jobs:
         cat config/.env.local
 
     - name: Install requirements and generate db model
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       run: scripts/db-gen.sh
 
     - name: Download csv version of the database
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       run: wget -O sources.csv https://bit.ly/catalogs-csv
 
     - name: Validate file download
@@ -109,11 +110,11 @@ jobs:
       run: echo "PATH=$(realpath sources.csv)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
     - name: Populate Database
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       run: scripts/populate-db.sh ${{ steps.getpath.outputs.PATH }} > populate.log
 
     - name: Upload log file for verification
-      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT
+      if: inputs.RUN_POPULATE_SCRIPT == 'true'
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
       with:
         name: populate.log