Iloilo City eyes QR code scheme by end-November

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

The Iloilo City Government is aiming to implement its citywide contact tracing system by the end of November 2020 as one of its latest moves to arrest the rise of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

This new contact tracing system via a Quick Response (QR) code will be available through the city government’s official website, where residents and non-residents can provide their basic information.

Users will be provided with QR codes which they can present via screenshots on their phone or through laminated IDs.

Iloilo City Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Task Force spokesperson Jeck Conlu told the media during a press briefing that the system will be applicable to all persons who traverse to and from Iloilo City.

These include people of all ages, such as city residents, residents of Iloilo province who have essential business or work in the city, and visitors from other places in the region and the country.

It will be used for all transactions with the Iloilo City Hall, where it is currently being implemented for employees via QR codes in their IDs.

Establishments will also be mandated to have assigned personnel to scan the QR codes at all their entrances and exits.

Conlu said the new QR code system will lessen long lines at establishments as well as physical contact using pens and papers, which are currently the common materials being used for contact tracing logs.

He added that they aim to launch the app before December as they expect foot traffic to double due to the holiday season.

“This [QR code system] aims to lessen the physical contact using papers and pens, as well as long lines in establishments. We’re looking at the end of November to launch this QR code. We will be giving two weeks before full implementation, so we can disseminate information,” Conlu said.

Conlu added that they can easily detect persons who violate COVID-19-related protocols.

“Another problem we’ve had is that people are not following the necessary protocol in the city. After having their swab test, they’re not following protocol and instead they go around. At least through this, we will be able to see whether or not they are under quarantine after their tests. Our establishments can easily contact our hotlines so the city government can quickly respond,” he added.

The implementation of this QR code system was based on Republic Act No. 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act of 2019).

Conlu said that as much as the city government wished to adopt other digital contact tracing systems by other local government units (LGUs) and national government agencies, they would not want to overwhelm their systems.

“It would be better for a QR code system to have a national approach for uniformity. But right now, we cannot depend on other systems by other cities and provinces because it might get overwhelmed due to more users. The systems might get bogged down. For us, it would also be easier to control and troubleshoot the system since we were the ones who developed it,” he said.

He also said that the city government may provide help desks in malls to assist residents, workers, and visitors in getting their personal QR codes.