MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is coordinating with local government units who have their own contact tracing applications so these can be linked with the agency’s Stay Safe system.

This was revealed by Odilon Pasaraba, DILG assistant secretary, during the LagingHhanda Network Briefing program Monday, June 28, hosted by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.

Asec. Pasaraba shared the update on efforts at a unified web-based app in response to a query by Naawan, Misamis Oriental Mayor Dennis Roa, main guest of the LHNB program, on the many QR apps now in use for contract tracing purposes.

“The IATF resolution supports the Stay Safe contact tracing system, a work in progress supported by LGUs,” said Pasaraba.

He said some provinces, cities, and municipalities designed their own online apps for contact tracing purposes recognized by the DILG, and these LGU initiatives will be integrated with Stay Safe.

“For now, our national headquarters who manages Stay Safe is coordinating with LGUs who have their own contact tracing applications for the linking of their systems to Stay Safe,” Pasaraba said.

The city of Maasin and the province of Southern Leyte, to recall, have different contact tracing apps, the city using ARK developed by an Ormoc-based web company, while the province has ACTS, or automated contact tracing system designed by IT experts from Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).

The two QR code systems had since been integrated, and these two will soon be linked, too, to the national Stay Safe app according to the pronouncement of DILG Asec Pasaraba.  (LDL/MMP/PIA-8/Southern Leyte)