DOTr LAUNCHES CONTACT TRACING APP

The Aviation and Airports Sector of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched  a contact tracing app that was co-developed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Cosmotech Philippines, Inc., in four (4) airports nationwide.

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 (NAIA), Clark International Airport (CRK), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIAA), and Davao International Airport (DIA). Other airports will follow soon. After a month or by 28 November, use of TRAZE will be made mandatory for all air passengers in all airports nationwide. 

As directed by Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the use of the 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-positive patients. 

All departing and arriving passengers at the 4 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 registrarion 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 COVID-19 positive patient 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 (RA) 1017 or the Data Privacy Act (DPA). 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 WiFi. 

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.