Contact tracing app mandatory in airports soon: CAAP

CONTACT TRACING APP. The mobile interface of the Traze contact tracing application co-developed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Cosmotech Philippines Inc. Atty. Danjun Lucas, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff, on Wednesday (Oct. 28, 2020) said the app will be made mandatory in all of the country’s airports after a month. (Screenshot via PNA)

MANILA – Instead of manually filling up contact tracing forms, air passengers will soon be required to use the contact tracing mobile application (app) Traze to enter any airport in the country, an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Wednesday.

In a virtual presser during the launch of the Traze app for airports, CAAP Chief of Staff Atty. Danjun Lucas said that while the app may already be used by airport passengers, it is still optional while a month-long information campaign is ongoing.

“Magkakaroon po tayo ng transition kung saan ngayon ay voluntary po, yun naman po ang utos ng ating mahal na Secretary [Arthur Tugade]. Sa loob po ng 30 days saka ito gagawin itong mandatory sa lahat ng mananakay (There will be a transition where it is currently voluntary, as ordered by Secretary Tugade. In 30 days, this will be mandatory for all passengers),” Lucas said.

Traze was initially co-developed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Cosmotech Philippines Inc. for use in PPA ports and maritime transportation before being expanded for use in the country’s airports.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the new contact tracing system can also be used by those without smartphones through the assistance of ‘Malasakit Help Desks’ and other passengers.

“Mag-request po sila ng assistance [at Malasakit Help Desk] at ma-register po sila sa app at bibigyan po sila ng printout ng QR code (They can request assistance at a Malasakit Help Desk to be registered for the app and they will be given a printout of a QR code),” Santiago said.

This QR code, he said, is unique for every passenger and can be scanned using the smartphone of a friend, family member, or a stranger to complete the contact tracing process.

“Either you will be scanned as a neighbor or scanned as a family member. Kahit wala po kayong mobile gadget, basta meron pong ibang magi-scan ng inyong unique QR code (Even if you don’t have a mobile gadget, as long as there’s someone to scan your unique QR code),” Santiago said.

He noted that Traze has been in use in PPA ports for more than a month and has now 40,000 users.

“This is really not just for the sake of signing forms or filling up forms or submitting forms online, but this is really to ensure that everybody is safe in the environment kung saan po tayo pupunta, lalong lalo na po sa ating public transportation (we’re in, especially in public transportation),” Santiago said.

The Traze app was simultaneously pilot-tested through a “soft launch” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, And Davao International Airport.

On Tuesday, the DOTr said the app will also soon be pilot-tested in the country’s other airports.