New contact-tracing app to be pilot-tested

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will make it mandatory for air passengers to use its digital contact-tracing app called “Traze” at all airports nationwide starting Nov. 28 this year to complement efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. The DOTr said Traze, developed by the Philippine Ports Authority with Cosmotech Philippines Inc., would be tested on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport and Davao International Airport. The app will eventually be used in all modes of transport. Traze uses quick response (QR) codes to log a person’s location at a given time and date. Passengers will be required to download the Traze app and scan QR codes. Traze speeds up the contact-tracing process to mere minutes. —Miguel R. Camus and Jeannette I. Andrade