Following VaxCertPH’s recent contract expiration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it is fixing the digital Covid-19 vaccine certificate system’s issues.
The Philippine government’s VaxCertPH contract with the software developer expired on Sept. 30, but according to DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, the issuance of digital certificates will not be hampered and will still continue as it stands.
“Medyo late at biglaan po kaming nainform kaya nagmamadali po kaming ayusin nang maituloy po namin ang operations (We were informed a little late and suddenly, so we are rushing to fix the issues so that we can continue its operations),” said Uy in a “Laging Handa” public briefing on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Uy also disclosed that the DICT, after conducting a series of trainings and workshops, was ready to turn the program over to the Department of Health (DOH), but the latter claimed that with insufficient funds and “ill-equipped” personnel, they are “not yet ready” to assume and run the operations alone.
Although still in the process of renewing the contract and fixing other technical issues, Uy said the DICT will manage the operations of the said system until the end of the year or the first half of 2023.
”inalo po ng DICT at hinanapan natin ng kaukulang budget upang maituloy ang VAxCertPH (The DICT will manage it and we are looking for sufficient budget to continue the operations of VaxCertPH),” Uy added.