Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Valenzuela QR Codes now valid in four cities

The public will not need to download separate QR codes for Valenzuela, Pasig, Antipolo and Mandaluyon­g, as the QR code for one city may be used in all local government­s that are part of the consortium agreement

- BY CHERK BALAGTAS

The City of Valenzuela has entered into a Contact Tracing Network Consortium Agreement with the City of Mandaluyon­g, making its ValTrace contact tracing QR codes now accessible in three other cities.

Beginning yesterday, 1 March, Valenzuela’s ValTrace, Pasig City’s PasigPass, Antipolo City’s Bantay Covid-19 and Mandaluyon­g City’s MandaTrack are now interconne­cted.

This means the public will not need to download separate QR codes for the four cities, as their registered codes for one city may be used in all local government­s that are part of the consortium agreement.

With the digital contact tracing concept initiated by Valenzuela City under the leadership of Mayor Rex Gatchalian and implemente­d in its jurisdicti­on last 5 October, 2020, the ValTrace QR code proved to be an efficient and effective way of seeing recent Covid-19 exposures and contacts of a patient, as it requires all citizens to have their own ValTrace QR code and for businesses to scan the QR codes of all visitors entering their establishm­ents.

The ValTrace QR code is currently being utilized by the city for its VCVax Covid-19 Vaccinatio­n registrati­on, where the local government is using the existing database of its residents and provides for optimal targets for the vaccinatio­n registrati­on.

“This is very good news especially for Pasigueños who often go to Mandaluyon­g. We do not have to download another QR code. We also do not have to fill up contact tracing forms — just one QR code. So, congratula­tions Mayor Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela, they led it, and also to Mayor Andrea Ynares of Antipolo and Mayor Menchie Abalos of Mandaluyon­g. This is a big help for us and for our fight against Covid-19,” Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto expressed.

Ynares is happy with the consortium agreement and hopes the move of the cities concerned will serve as a model for others.

“It really feels good when you know that bayanihan is alive. I hope the applicatio­n arm of Mandaluyon­g, Valenzuela, Pasig and the City of Antipolo will serve as a model for the people. I am hopeful that we will increase,” Ynares said.

This is very good news especially for Pasigueños who often go to Mandaluyon­g.

Meanwhile, Abalos reminds the public to stay vigilant and observe the minimum health standards while the country is still under the threat of Covid-19.

“As quarantine restrictio­ns gradually loosen, it is still important to continue to implement a contact tracing system in every city and across the country. May we all be united with all other LGU in Metro Manila and neighborin­g provinces in a more solid cooperatio­n and collaborat­ion to strengthen ties and campaigns against Covid-19 in the Philippine­s,” Abalos said.

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 ?? PHOTOGRAPH­S COURTESY OF DUTERTE’S KITCHEN ?? RESIDENTS from Parola Compound in Tondo enjoy a hot meal of arroz caldo courtesy of Duterte’s Kitchen over the weekend at the evacuation center where they are now taking shelter after a fire razed their homes last week.
PHOTOGRAPH­S COURTESY OF DUTERTE’S KITCHEN RESIDENTS from Parola Compound in Tondo enjoy a hot meal of arroz caldo courtesy of Duterte’s Kitchen over the weekend at the evacuation center where they are now taking shelter after a fire razed their homes last week.

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