The Quezon City government is set to launch KyusiPass, a contact tracing app powered by SafePass, in a bid to boost its contact tracing efforts.
Through KyusiPass, the city can keep track of who is visiting each establishment within its jurisdiction.
“Currently, our businesses are requiring their guests to fill-up health declaration forms. Through our KyusiPass, they will just tap their QR code onto the scanner and their information, including their name and mobile number, will automatically be sent to our servers handled by our City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU),” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Each individual with a valid mobile number who is residing, working, or doing business in Quezon City is required to get a personal QR code. They can register by signing up on the SafePass website, SafePass Facebook chatbot, and through SMS.
KyusiPass is now being implemented in all QC government departments, where all offices are required to scan their employees’ QR codes before entering their offices.
According to QC Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (LEIPO) head Perry Dominguez, the city wants to make KyusiPass city-wide by the end of January.
“Given the size of our city, it will take us a few weeks to fully implement the use of this contact tracing app city-wide. Hopefully, before this month ends, all our businesses would have adopted this app through the widespread information campaign we will launch. Using this app will be more convenient for them, as well as for their customers,” Dominguez said.
QC Business Permits and Licensing Department (QCBPLD) head Margie Santos will spearhead the implementation of KyusiPass to businesses. They are also set to orient the establishments on how the app will work.
Last week, security personnel were trained on basic KyusiPass registration.
Data privacy is also assured, as no businesses will be able to retrieve their guests’ personal data.
“We will see to it that we adhere to the Data Privacy Law. Establishments will not be able to get their visitors’ data,” Dominguez explained.
CESU head Dr. Rolly Cruz explained that only CESU will have access to visitors’ data, and assured residents that the data will only be retrieved when contact tracing is needed.
“Our QCitizens have nothing to worry about because their data will be protected and secured. Only us in CESU can access their information, and only if we need to trace the contacts of a ‘positive’ visitor from a specific establishment,” Dr. Cruz noted.
In December 2020, the Quezon City Council passed Resolution 8416-2020, authored by Councilor Ram Medalla, urging the city government to implement a city-wide QR code contact tracing solution.
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