Every Passenger Flying to and From the Philippines Will Now Have to Download This Contact Tracing App

As our borders are slowly reopening, allowing travel to and from the Philippines, every passenger will now need to download the contact tracing app Traze, as per government mandate.

READ MORE

Countries Are Now Opening Doors to Filipino Travelers

The Philippines Ranks Among Top 20 Post-Pandemic Travel Destinations

When will Traze be implemented?

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Traze will have its “soft-launch” on October 28, and will be mandatory for all passengers in every Philippine airport nationwide by November 28. Within one month, the app’s reach will encompass each and every airport in the country, from the major airports to the regional airports.

Where will Traze be implemented?

The app will be implemented first at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Clark International Airport (CRK), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIAA), and Davao International Airport (DIA). This means that every passenger entering these airports will have to download the app Traze and register on the platform before they can even check in.

After the app’s reach expands to all airports, that’s when DOTr will implement Traze in other modes of transport. Traze was developed and Cosmotech Philippines Inc.

How does Traze work?

The resumption of non-essential travel will hopefully restart the struggling economy, however to ensure the pandemic remains under control, the DOTr has partnered with Traze so contact tracing for all passengers entering and leaving the country is centralized.

What if you don't have a phone?

If you don’t have a phone or have run out of data, every airport will be equipped with a Malasakit Helpdesk that can aid you in acquiring a unique QR code. The app is based on QR codes to maximize contactless processes.

Is your data safe?

A government-partnered app with such a scope might worry some, but Traze has assured users that the data they collect is not stored permanently and will be deleted every 30 days. It also doesn’t employ GPS or Bluetooth technology, meaning that it does not track your location when the app is on. It also works offline and doesn’t need fast data to update your Traze history.  

How does Traze help control the pandemic?

Widespread contact tracing is a crucial part in slowly lifting lockdown. Countries that have been able to control the pandemic, like South Korea and Singapore, credit contact tracing and fast government response for their success. Only time will tell if this can stop have the same effect on the Philippines, but at least it’s a start.

You can download Traze on Apple, Android, Huawei, and Samsung devices. 

READ MORE

Countries Are Now Opening Doors to Filipino Travelers

The Philippines Ranks Among Top 20 Post-Pandemic Travel Destinations