Consolacion uses AI to track residents’ movements

CEBU, Philippines —  The municipality of Consolacion in northern Cebu is using an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application to track down quarantine pass holders.

Called “Conan,” it monitors the movements of residents leaving and entering the town, which is now under the general community quarantine.

“The application helps monitor the location of residents. It would also help in contact tracing of COVID-19 patients,” said Mayor Joannes “Joyjoy” Alegado.

The quarantine pass is scanned every time the holder goes through checkpoints. It will then be downloaded to the database.

The Conan automated chat assistant also provides quick response to queries about COVID-19, as well as updates from the local government.

Also, Alegado urged workers and business owners to get a worker’s permit or authority to operate from the town. This will also be scanned at the checkpoints using the Conan application.

For queries on Conan and COVID-19, residents may send them to m.me/LGUConsolacionCOVID19ai. The system is available 24/7.

Market, Bank schedules

In another development, Consolacion has set a new market and banking days.

Group A consisting of Tayud, Lanipga, Pitogo and Poblacion Oriental will be allowed to go to the markets and banks and other financial institutions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, while group B composed of Casili, Panas, Jugan, Danglag, Tilhaong, and Cabangahan are scheduled on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On the other hand, the schedules of group C-- Nangka, Panoypoy, Lamac, Poblacion Occidental and Garing-- are Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, while Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays are for group D--Pulpogan, Sacsac, Tugbongan, Cansaga, Tolotolo.

The rest of the barangays belonging to group E will have their turn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  KQD (FREEMAN)