The Philippines is eyeing to launch a Singapore-based contact tracing app to help the government in containing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said they are coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) and other government agencies to look into Singapore-based app ‘TraceTogether’.
DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan wrote a letter to Singaporean Ambassador Gerard Ho Wei Hong requesting more details about the app and that the ICT-enabled tools could assist in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines.
“In response, Ambassador Ho Wei Hong said Singapore is willing to provide technical assistance to DICT regarding the matter,” the DICT said.
According to the DICT, TraceTogether is a community-driven contact tracing app which works by exchanging short-distance Bluetooth signals between phones to detect other app users who are within about two to five-meter proximity. The app was launched on March 20.
“If one app user tested positive for Covid-19, authorities will be able to identify other app users who were in close contact with the patient,” the DICT said.
