By Armando Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY – The Davao del Norte government will fully implement the use of electronic contact tracing cards in the coming week, which will be part of its preparations for the “new normal” with the implementation of Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) expected to end on June 15.
Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib (Armando Fenequito Jr. / MANILA BULLETIN)
Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib said, in an interview, the cards will have their own QR codes that would monitor all of its residents, and also those people who coming in and out of the province.
“Ang pinaka-purpose ana is para mapapaspas ang paghimo sa contact tracing (The purpose of this card is to have an immediate conduct of contact tracing),” he said.
Jubahib said once there a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positive coming from other parts of the region arrives in the province, they can be immediately traced.
He said the provincial government has already started the registration of its residents, and, by next week, travellers and visitors.
Jubahib said they have already registered 400,000 residents, and monitoring will start right after the lifting of MGCQ in the province.
He said the local government has produced two million contact tracing cards for all its residents, while another one million cards will follow which will be distributed to visitors and travellers.
Jubahib said the scanners will be deployed in the areas where people commonly go, such as malls, public markets, and parks, as well as the quarantine checkpoints in the provincial boarders.
He said once fully established, there will be a “No Contact Tracing Card, No Transcation” that can be implemented in some business establishments.
“So, kung mo adto kag mall, pangitaan jud kag card (So, if you will go to the mall, they will ask for your card),” he said.
Jubahib said this card will serve as replacement to the Quarantine Pass since there will still be a need to implement protocols to monitor the movement of people, and control the possible spread of the virus.
The governor said, the province has initially spent P 15 million for the printing of cards and procurement of scanners.