The Department of Science and Technology ( DOST) has developed the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage or S-PaSS, an internet-based travel management system, and is encouraging local governments and travellers to make use of it.
The S-PaSS application that can be accessed through s-pass.ph aims to have a better coordination between travellers and local government units (LGUs). 
Through the said system, travellers can secure travel coordination permits from LGUs that impose restrictions in their localities due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously released guidelines for uniformed travel protocols which does not require a travel authority from the PNP and a medical certificate. A negative RT-PCR test however is subject to LGU guidelines.
“Subalit po pag ‘yung ating local government unit alam naman po nila na kailangan ng control at certain times ‘yung pagpasok ng mga tao sa kanilang locality, pwede po silang mag-declare ng restricted travel policy (But local government units can declare a restricted travel policy if it needs to control at certain times the entry of people in their locality ),” DOST Western Visayas Regional Director Engr. Rowen Gelonga explained during an online forum on Friday.
“Ito pong ating (This) travel coordination permit is only for local government units that have declared a restricted travel policy,” Gelonga added.
The S-PaSS website also provides real-time update or list of LGUs that have restricted or unrestricted travel policies. Thus, making it a one-stop communication and coordination platform for travellers.
“Hindi na mahihirapan si traveller na maghanap ng information kung ano ‘yung travel policy ng different places over the Philippines (The traveller will no longer have a hard time finding information on the travel policies of different places over the Philippines),” Gelonga further explained.
Engr. Gelonga disclosed that 72 percent of the LGUs nationwide have logged in and are now using their S-PaSS account.
DOST is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and different leagues of provincial governors, provinces, and cities to encourage more LGUs to use the said platform.
The DOST plans to formally launch the S-PaSS travel management system next week together with the DILG. — Patrick de Jesus
