Cebu Pacific Air on Wednesday announced it will soon require all clients to register with a contact-tracing application to support the government’s aim to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Beginning Nov. 28, 2020, all passengers transiting through airports will be required to register on the Traze app, a unified national QR code-based mobile application that will automate the contact-tracing of the aviation sector.
“We commend the government for launching this contact- tracing app,” said Candice Iyog, the airline’s vice president for Marketing and Customer Experience.
“We believe having a single contact-tracing app for the industry will not only make the track and trace process more effective and efficient, it is also one of the critical steps in rebuilding trust and confidence in travel’”
This requirement will be included in the airline’s pre-flight reminder notifications for passengers, as well as on its website and official social media pages.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration has appealed to airlines not to board foreigners bound for the Philippines who do not have appropriate visas to enter the country.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he made the appeal following reports of foreigners who were turned back at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for not having visas.
He said similar reports of excluded foreign passengers had also been received from the international airports in Mactan, Cebu and Clark.
He said it was the responsibility of the airlines to see to it that the foreigners traveling to the Philippines had visas as it would bring inconvenience if their passengers were excluded upon arrival.
“We are positive that with this in place, coupled with the multi-layered approach airlines strictly implement, passengers will feel more confident in air travel,” Iyog said.
“We continue to collaborate with our partners in the industry to make sure we”¯all work together in ensuring”¯a safe journey”¯for”¯the riding public,”¯so”¯every Juan”¯ may travel with peace of mind.”
Traze allows passengers to register an account on their mobile devices, and scan QR codes at designated areas at the airport. Once someone with COVID-19 is identified, an in-app notification will be sent to the people this passenger may have had contact with.
Individuals who may have been exposed are advised to immediately isolate themselves and practice other sanitation precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, passengers who do not have mobile phones or any other mobile gadget may go to the Malasakit Helpdesk at the airport, where they will be assisted in acquiring a unique QR code. Another option is for them to ask a family member to register for them on the Traze app.
The app is now being tested across four major airports in the Philippines: Manila, Clark, Cebu and Davao.
CEB says it continues to implement multi-layered safety measures in accordance with global aviation standards to ensure inflight transmission is virtually nonexistent.
These include daily extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, the mandatory wearing of face masks and shields for passengers and crew, and contactless flight procedures.