Rapid pass to speed up delivery of cargo

MANILA, Philippines — The government has launched a rapid pass system at its checkpoints to speed up the inspection of vehicles and individuals at major Luzon highways as enforcers continue to implement the enhanced community quarantine policy.

Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles said this is part of efforts of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) to address long lines of cargo and delivery vans as well as other vehicles in affected areas.

“The RapidPass System was conceptualized to address this issue. With it, frontliners manning checkpoints can use QR scanners in smartphones that can scan personal QR codes that will be given to authorized individuals,” Nograles pointed out.

Individuals can use their RapidPass code and go through the checkpoints once the QR codes are accepted by the scanners.

“The reality is that while the majority of the population remain home during the enhanced community quarantine, there are still people who need to leave their homes to report for work, such as our health personnel and those working in essential industries,” he said during the regular press briefing of the IATF. “However, the question is, how do we limit contact between exempted individuals and personnel manning our checkpoints? How do we ensure social distancing when individuals must show their IDs and documents?”

According to Nograles, the RapidPass “can be requested by frontliners or authorized personnel through the website RapidPass.ph, either on a desktop or a mobile device.”

If this is approved, a unique and secure QR code and control number will be granted to each authorized person or vehicle. The QR code can be printed and placed on the dashboard of one’s vehicle or shown on the person’s smartphone.

Those without smartphones or printers can show the control number and a valid ID to authorities manning checkpoints.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) commissioned Developers Connect Inc. (DEVCON), a non-profit organization composed of Filipino developers and IT professionals from all over the country, to create the RapidPass.

After its founder Winston Damarillo called for volunteers to help with the project, Nograles said DEVCON was able to form a global volunteer team of over 500 Filipino developers, creatives and subject matter experts, collectively known as DCTx.

“This community of volunteers developed RapidPass as volunteers, free of charge, and its software will be released as open-source for the world to use,” he added.

DEVCON has collaborated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to ensure that RapidPass adheres to government-approved standards for data privacy, security and resilience.

Jaycee Sicat, DOST regional director for Central Luzon, told The STAR that field trials were done with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Romina Cabrera

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