As the battle against Covid-19 intensified, Mayor Beng Climaco issued early this week an executive order that sets guidelines for the adoption and mandatory use of the “StaySafe” application, the official digital contact tracing system of the city government of Zamboanga.

The system is consistent with the national government’s contact tracing platform “StaySafe.PH” being managed by the Department of Health (DOH), pursuant to Resolution 101 dated February 26, 2021 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Under Climaco’s EO 657 signed May 31, 2021, “all city and national government offices, private establishments and the general public are enjoined to use and patronize the”StaySafe. Ph” application for digital contact tracing and use the one uniform quick response (QR) code at all entrances or visible spots.”

For such purpose, all offices, whether government or private, including business establishments are ordered to designate a help desk or customer assistance desk to facilitate registration with “StaySafe.PH” and for the generation and printing of “StaySafe.PH” QR code, especially for those not using smartphones.

Section 3 of EO 657 provides for the mandatory registration of all citizens/residents of Zamboanga City with “StaySafe.PH” app as they enter, work and transact business in all indoor and enclosed public and private establishments in Zamboanga City.

The “StaySafe.PH” app can be downloaded from 1) App Store for iPhone/iOS, 2) Google Play for Android devices, and 3) App Gallery for Huawei. Failure to comply with the provisions of EO 657 shall be penalized with fines of P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the 2nd offense and P5,000 for the 3rd offense with 3-month suspension of franchise or business permit.-(Vic Larato)