DAVAO CITY – The pilot testing of the local government of Davao’s Safe Davao QR (DQR) system may be completed by the first week of February, Mayor Sara Duterte announced.

Once completed, Duterte said there will be mandatory enforcement of DQR, an electronic contact tracing and travel pass platform, which is intended to implement contactless gathering and electronic storage data within the city.

She said the pilot testing started last Friday, sending SMS notifications “who are in the same area as the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) confirmed case” and giving instructions to self-quarantine and monitor any of the COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, difficulty of breathing, shortness of breath, diarrhea, loss of smell, and loss of taste.

She said individuals who receive text notifications from DQR must immediately proceed to a swabbing center or contact COVID-19 operation center.

Under the DQR ordinance passed on December 7, the DQR system must be used by all individuals, be they residents or non-residents, who need to enter the city for essential or work/business purposes. Establishments, covering government and private offices, event venues, hospitals, hotels, malls, stores, groceries, mini-marts, restaurants, carinderia, palengke, places of worship, educational institutions and all other organizations, including their sub-offices or branches, are also required to implement the system.

The ordinance penalizes individuals who take advantage of the DQR for “non-essential” purposes, use cancelled DQR codes, or refuse to present valid codes for scanning or inspection when so required by persons of authority.

Under the ordinance, first time-offenders of its provisions will be penalized with a reprimand; a fine of P500 or community service, or both, for second time-offenders; and a fine of P1,500 or month imprisonment, or both, for the third-time offenders.

The ordinance likewise prescribes the penalty of P500 for first offense, P1,000 for second offense, and P1,500 or one month imprisonment, or both, for third offense, for the following prohibited acts: lending of personal DQR to another person, use and possession of a fake DQR, use of a fake ID, birth certificate, and business registration number, or another individual’s ID or birth certificate or another’s business registration number to register for a DQR, making or selling fake identifies for DQR registration, and hacking of the DQR system and or identity theft.

It added that any person guilty of tampering or hacking the online link will be prosecuted for cybercrimes under Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act) and any violations involving RA 10173 (Data Privacy Act).

The Task Force Davao, Davao City Police Office, City Health Office, and barangay officials have been directed to strictly enforce the ordinance.

As of January 17, the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region reported 194 new cases, bringing the total cases to 15,081, with 2,688 active, 11,784 recoveries, and 609 deaths in the region.

Out of the total, Davao City, which reported the highest COVID-19 cases in Mindanao, tallied 10,368 cases, with 1,571 active, 8,314 recoveries, and 483 deaths.

Davao de Oro reported 740 cases, Davao del Norte with 3,039, Davao del Sur with 1,098, Davao Occidental with 166, and Davao Oriental with 670.