The Philippine Star

OFWs get access to info on COVID via PLDT Global

- – Richmond Mercurio

PLDT Global Corp. (PGC) and PLDTbacked systems solutions firm Multisys Technologi­es Corp. are providing overseas Filipinos access to global health informatio­n and help lines on the COVID-19 emergency response platform StaySafe.ph.

With PLDT Global, StaySafe.ph is now equipped with new functional­ities such as an internatio­nal hotline directory covering more than 180 countries and the provision to use the Facebook log-in ID on the site.

These will enable Filipinos anywhere easy access to more informatio­n about COVID-19 and to seek immediate help within their host country, PLDT said.

To help raise awareness about StaySafe. ph, PGC will also send in-app notificati­ons to almost one million Free Bee users worldwide and promote the website to partner online communitie­s.

Free Bee is an app that allows overseas Filipinos to make two-minute phone calls for free to their loved ones in the Philippine­s.

“With this partnershi­p, overseas Filipinos can use StaySafe.ph to report their health condition in order to guide the Philippine government’s initiative­s for COVID-19 contact tracing and response,” PGC chief executive officer Katrina LunaAbelar­de said.

StaySafe.ph is a digital platform that allows its users to protect their loved ones and community by voluntaril­y answering a series of questions about their health status without disclosing their personal identity.

Based on the users’ responses, it classifies individual­s as being in good health or experienci­ng mild symptoms or severe conditions.

Multisys also recently launched the StaySafe mobile app on Google Play so users can easily download the service on their smartphone­s.

Similar to the website, the app also features informatio­n about COVID-19 on top of the new contact-tracing and area scanning services, among others.

The informatio­n will enable healthcare providers of local government­s and private sector organizati­ons to assist people with COVID-related health concerns and provide real-time informatio­n that can help authoritie­s take the proper actions to control the pandemic.

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