Firms urged to use digital contact tracing system

MANILA, Philippines — With the increasing operational capacity of businesses this holiday season amid the continuing threat of COVID-19, firms nationwide are highly encouraged to adapt a digital contact tracing system.

In a joint advisory, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recommended the use of the government’s digital contact tracing app Stay.ph for the protection of employees and customers.

“The use of digital contact tracing app is highly encouraged for greater efficiency of implementation and added security of the data collected,” DOLE and DTI said.

The Stay.ph app is integrated in the Department of Health (DOH)’s COVID-19 documentary repository system (CDRS).

The government said the required information should be limited only to name and contact number of customers and clients to ensure protection of privacy.

Firms are also allowed to commission their own shuttle services for the benefit of their employees.

The operational capacity of commissioned shuttle services for employees must observe the one-seat apart arrangement.

Necessary dividers must be put in place if the shuttle reaches its full capacity.

The government earlier required companies with total assets of P100 million to provide shuttle services to their employees.

But with the availability of more public transportation, the requirement was modified and allowed companies so covered to just commission their own shuttle services.

The shuttle service must strictly comply with minimum public health and safety protocols.