Davao City to apprehend those without QR Code

Photo from Davao City Information Office
Photo from Davao City Information Office

BEGINNING November 7, Dabawenyos and non-Davao City residents caught in the streets without their personal Safe Davao QR (DQR) code will be apprehended, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said.

This came after the City Government issued Executive Order (EO) 60 on Tuesday, November 3, which provides the guidelines on the implementation of the DQR in the city for all Davao City residents and non-city residents who wish to travel for essential purposes.

Duterte-Carpio said the City Government will start implementing the "No QR Code, No Travel, No Entry" Policy within the city, effective November 7.

"Pag wala kay (If you will be caught outside and fail to present your) DQR, you will be held," the mayor said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

DQR is an electronic contact tracing and travel pass platform intended to be implemented for several purposes.

For one, it will serve as a pass for entry into and travel inside Davao City to implement the requirement that travel must be for goods and accessing essential services or for work/business only.

Duterte-Carpio said this in replacement to the food and medicine (FM) pass, which was used during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to regulate the public's movement.

The mayor said this also serves as a pass at law enforcement checkpoints and barangay patrols implementing the prohibition on non-essential travel.

Aside from that, this will serve as a contact-tracing log for entry and exit in all offices and establishments.

The EO also emphasized that all individuals who will be going outside their residence or beyond three meters from their houses, for structures without gates, must bring their DQR for non-essential travels such as "panilingan, tambay, gimmick, suroy-suroy," etc.

The mayor said barangay personnel are tasked to randomly scan people within their area of responsibility to check violations on the prohibition of non-essential travel.

In addition to the DQR, the following are documents required to prove essential travel: valid employee ID (a photocopy may be presented by drivers who drop-off and pick-up the employee); Employer/Principal Certification for those who have no employer-employee relationship; Business Permit or any other document to prove travel is for accessing essential goods and services or for work/business only, as these may be required by checkpoint personnel; and in cases of buying goods or accessing essential services, the original receipt of the items or service shall suffice.

In cases where no document can be presented to prove travel to a destination (i.e. going to the hospital, church etc.), a convincing oral explanation may be admitted by checkpoint personnel.

Who can scan the DQR?

Duterte-Carpio said as indicated in the EO, only the Task Force Davao (TFD), Davao City Police Office (DCPO), barangay officials and personnel, of both private and governments, of event venues, hospitals, hotels, malls, stores, groceries, mini-marts, restaurants, carinderia, palengkes, places of worship, educational institutions and all other offices, establishments and organizations are the only ones authorized to scan the DQR upon entry of individuals.

TFD may create a system to check DQR for people traveling together to avoid long queues in the checkpoints, while DCPO shall conduct scanning in specified checkpoints within the city.

For barangay officials, they must be in complete official uniform in conducting random scanning to individuals found on the streets within their area of responsibility.

Other law enforcement personnel supporting the TFD, DCPO, barangay checkpoints may also scan the DQR.

All private and government offices must prepare their online and offline scan for all individuals entering and exiting their area.

According to the EO, the equipment that can be used as DQR scanners are smartphone with an internet connection, tablet with internet connection, or QR code scanning device/machine attached to a personal computer with internet connection

If internet connection is not available, the following are options for DQR checking: picture taking of the DQR; listing down of the text code/alphanumeric code under the QR code and then uploading the data once online connection is re-established; or using traditional pen and paper method.

Those mandated to scan the DQR shall be liable in keeping all the records confidential under the Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act and can only share data with the City Health Office (CHO).

Challenges in the DQR implementation

The registration for the DQR has been open to the public since Saturday, October 31.

Duterte-Carpio admitted that there are a lot of challenges in the DQR implementation, particularly in the registration period where some Dabawenyos raised concern on some technical difficulties and hindrances upon registration.

Some Dabawenyos commented that it takes a long time for them to get in the DQR portal, allegedly due to increased traffic of site visitors.

Others said it took more than an hour for them to get their personalized QR code.

The mayor added that some Dabawenyos, particularly those who aren't "tech savvy," do not know how to register online.

She said the city already opened a separate helpline for individuals who have additional inquiries on how to get their own DQR, and for those who are having technical difficulties in applying. RGL

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio said the city will be hosting video conferencing to different sectors, including law enforcers and establishments on how they will use the DQR.

An instructional video on how the public can register and use the DQR will also be posted on the City Government's official social media accounts.

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