Traze app to be launched in 4 airports nationwide

(Screenshot from Traze website)

MANILA – The Aviation and Airports Sector of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will soft launch a contact tracing app that was co-developed by the Philippine Ports Authority and Cosmotech Philippines, Inc. in four airports on Wednesday.

Traze, a nationwide and unified QR code-based app will automate the contact tracing of agencies under the DOTr’s Aviation and Airports sector, such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

The contact tracing app will be simultaneously pilot-tested through a soft launch at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark Internal Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Davao International Airport.

Other airports will follow soon.

After a month or by Nov. 28, the use of Traze will be made mandatory for all air passengers in all airports nationwide.

As directed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the use of Traze app, which was pioneered by the PPA in ports last month, will eventually be utilized across all modes of transportation to strengthen the government’s effort in containing the disease by immediately identifying individuals who had contact with Covid-19 patients.

All departing and arriving passengers at the four airports will be required to download the app on their mobile phones, and to register an account before proceeding to the airport.

Passengers who do not have mobile phones or any other mobile gadget may go to the Malasakit Helpdesk at the airport for registration assistance to get a unique QR code, or they may ask a family member to register them with the app.

The QR code can be used at any DOTr office nationwide.

By using a QR code, Traze speeds up the tedious manual contact tracing process to just a few minutes.

Passengers will scan the QR codes at designated areas of the airport. Once a patient with Covid-19 is identified, an in-app notification will be sent to individuals who may have had contact with the patient so they may immediately observe self-isolation procedure, and other health and sanitation precautionary measures.

Traze is compliant with Republic Act 1017 or the Data Privacy Act. It allows anonymous registration and optional submission of personal information (i.e. mobile phone, email address). It is easy to use and does not require Bluetooth nor GPS to work. It will work even with slow data or Wi-Fi.

With nationwide coverage, Traze has complete modules to trace individuals, establishments, logistics, and transportation systems such as trains, vessels, airplanes, jeepneys, taxis, PUVs, and even tricycles, among others.