Over 600,000 travelers have registered at the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) online travel management system or Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-PaSS).
The DOST Region VII, which developed the travel app, reported that S-PaSS has a total of 611,042 registrants, as of April 23.
"The implementation of the S-PaSS has reached over 83 provinces with Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao already fully utilizing the online travel management system,” the DOST said in a statement.
The system seeks to help the LGUs in managing the travelers coming from other parts of the country whether they are returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), local travelers, and tourists among others.
Through the system, travelers can check the travel restrictions of their destination through https://s-pass.ph.
"If the traveler is going to an LGU with “Restricted” travel policy, application for a Travel Coordination Permit (TCP) is required,” the DOST said.
"On the other hand, when traveling to an LGU with “Unrestricted” travel policy but passing through areas with strict travel protocols, DOST recommends that a Travel Pass-Through Permit (TPP) be generated to be presented to the appropriate authorities when requested.”
The DOST reported that as of April 23, the top 10 provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs) or independent component cities (ICCs) with approved TCPs are the following: Ilocos Sur with 29,124; Eastern Samar, 7,382; Zambales, 7,245; Negros Occidental, 6,277; Iligan City, 3,168; Capiz, 3,168; Cadiz, 3,036; Iloilo City, 3,029; Pangasinan, 3,021; Bacolod City, 2,635; and Iloilo, 2,572.
Meanwhile, the top 10 provinces, HUCs, and ICCs with generated TPPs are the following: Zamboanga del Sur, 51,035; Misamis Occidental, 45,591; Cagayan de Oro City, 21,005; Cebu, 14,240; Lanao del Norte, 10,117; Manila, 9,591; Marinduque, 8,455; Pangasinan, 7,744; Mandaue City, 7,001; and Negros Oriental, 5,376.
"Among the active provinces/HUCs/ICCs, 30 are restricted provinces, nine are unrestricted HUCs & ICCs, 26 are unrestricted provinces and 18 are unrestricted HUCs & ICCs,” the DOST said.
The DOST clarified that S-PaSS is not a contact tracing app and only those who intend to travel need to use the system.
In order to register and use the system, the traveler will have to visit the s-pass.ph website and provide his or her personal mobile number.
For more inquiries on S-PaSS, you may contact the following hotline numbers: 0939-6067375 and 0998-5354217, the DOST said.