Gov't mandates use of StaySafe.PH app in businesses, banks to reduce COVID-19 cases, jumpstart economy

The government will require the use the StaySafe.PH app for businesses establishments and public transport in order to continuously reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and at the same time jumpstart the economy, testing czar Vince Dizon said Thursday.

StaySafe.PH app is a technology requiring individuals to take a photo of a QR code for access and filling out contact tracing forms via their mobile phones.

Interviewed on ANC, Dizon said the the sustained reduction of COVID-19 cases in the country is still the government's objective.

"We have to work together, the government, the private sector and the LGUs, to consistently bring down the cases. The use of the StaySafe app will help us sustain the downward trend of the cases,”  he said.

Dizon made the announcement a day after the Philippines recorded 2,218 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, the lowest number of COVID-19 cases logged in a single day in five weeks.

Dizon described StaySafe.PH as "an integrated platform for malls, restaurants, other private establishments, banks, public transport for an automated way of contact tracing."

"We have to use these facilities moving forward to build confidence, so people can start going out and help the economy," he said.

Dizon said that the app can be downloaded for free and will work even if the mobile number has no available load balance.

"Ngayon kasi, pag pupunta ka ng establishments, kailangan mo  mag fill out ng papel. Delikado iyon kasi iyong ballpen hinahawakan ng maraming tao. Sa StaySafe, directly ka makakapag-register using your mobile phone. Ideally, dapat lahat ng public transport [kasama rito], we will work with DOTR [on that]. Kasama na rito ito ang malls at banks. Slowly, magro-rollout tayo," he said.

He stressed that only the government has access to the information shared in the app. "Makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan na protektado ang kanilang mga data," he assured the public.

Dizon, however, acknowledged that the system is not fool-proof and thus appealed to the public to be truthful in disclosing their data.

"Of course, we need the cooperation and appeal to the public to be truthful. Responsibility natin ito as citizens. Ito na ang ambag natin," he said.

"Technology is there to assist, but obviously it cannot solve everything without the discipline and cooperation of the public."

The Philippines has recorded 226,440 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, September 2. Of this number, 158,610 recovered while 3,623 died.

The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 64,207.

Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor and tracing czar Benjamin Magalong said the Department of Information and Communications Technology would handle the data under this application.

Magalong also said this application should be integrated with the other contact tracing applications of other local government units.

"Fortunately, we have the DICT who will be on top of the situation. They will manage the data and at the same time, kinakailangan 'yung mga contact tracing digital applications na iba, dapat maintegrate," Magalong told reporters.

"We cannot prevent the others from engaging in other groups to come up with their own digital contact tracing applications. It will be integrated, 'yun nga 'yung paguusapan namin ngayon," he added.  —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News