Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque – Use of automatic contact tracing via Smart Messaging System approved

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Saturday, April 10, 2021, approved the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority to use automatic contact tracing through Smart Messaging System to further strengthen and improve the use of StaySafe.PH System.

The StaySafe.PH System is the official social distancing, COVID-19 health-condition reporting, and contact tracing system of the government.

To ensure interoperability and integration of all contact tracing applications integration in the StaySafe.PH System, there will be an initial beta-testing, together with the proposed messaging, of the Smart Messaging System in Pasig City due on May 1, 2021, and beta-testing in the consortium of Antipolo and cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela due on May 1, 2021, with access to COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS).

The IATF likewise adopted the recommendation on the immediate completion of the transfer of ownership to the Department of Health (DOH) of the CDRS and the immediate integration of the CDRS with the StaySafe.PH System and other local contact tracing systems and applications.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been directed to be the over-all lead in the implementation.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), on the other hand, is directed to lead in the national interoperability, while the DOH is directed to ensure integration of the StaySafe.PH System with the CDRS.

The DILG is further directed to immediately coordinate and convene with DICT and DOH to formulate the necessary action plan with specific timelines and targets.

Also ratified during the IATF meeting is the proposal, which was endorsed by the Department of Tourism, to construct free and temporary public walk-in and drive-thru vaccination centers in the vacant portion of the lots located in the Nayong Pilipino property in Paranaque City.

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