Today,
the government announces the rapid pass system.
In the
words of Cabinet Secretary and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Spokesperson Karlo Nograles, the
rapid pass system is designed to minimize contact between health frontliners
and others authorized to work outside their homes, from those manning the
checkpoints.
During
the IATF virtual presscon aired over PTV, Nograles says the system
revolves around the assignment of a QR code to every individual exempted from
the lockdown and/or delivery truck carrying essential cargo, which will be
scanned at checkpoints equipped with smartphones.
Smart
Communications, Inc. and parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
donated 200 Samsung A10 phones that police personnel at the checkpoints can
immediately use to scan the QR codes/rapid pass to check their validity against
data provided by approving agencies.
RapidPass is a project
of DCTx (DEVCON Community of Technology Experts), a volunteer-based global
community working with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to
develop digital solutions that will help government response efforts to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
DCTx Founder Winston
Damarillo says they have some 929 Filipino developers not only based in the
country, but also as far as Ireland, Silicon Valley, Chicago, etc. DCTx is
organized and led by Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON), a non-profit
entity that syncs, supports, and champions the success of Filipino developers. The
group developed rapid pass as an open source software to enable its use for free.
Damarillo adds that
those who want to apply for a rapid pass can register at a link which will be operational by Monday,
April 6, 2020 (said link has been deactivated as of 2023). Information will also be made available via the group’s FB
account.
Implementation
is initially limited to over 50 checkpoints in Metro Manila. There are suggestions
that those already issued IATF identification cards will automatically be
encoded into the rapid pass system.
Once implemented, the
rapid pass system will speed up the flow of goods from the provinces to their
markets. There are reports of food deliveries unable to get past checkpoints,
prompting Government to have the Philippine National Police (PNP) take over those
installed along the national and provincial roads.
More importantly, the system
minimizes human contact and consequently, chances of exposure to and transmission
of the novel corona virus, while allowing for the movement of essential workers,
services, products and goods.
I think this is going
to be part of the new normal.
DoH
update: As of 4 p.m. of April 3, 2020, the Philippines has reported 3,018
confirmed corona virus cases, including 52 recoveries and 136 deaths.
