Passengers of the MRT will soon have to fill up an online contact tracing form to minimize pen-and-paper use as a precaution against COVID-19, the Department of Transportation said.
The MRT-3 Trace web app will be soft-launched on Monday, Jan. 18 but will be fully implemented in February, the department said.
“MRT-3 Trace is a web application that will help us and the passengers avoid further transmission of the virus through direct contact between our commuters and personnel," MRT-3 director for operations Michael Capati said.
"It will ease the process of contact tracing, and thus, prevent long queues in stations,” he added.
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MRT commuters will be given time to download the web app and familiarize themselves with its features. Currently, the MRT implements a manual contact tracing process.
For those without smartphones, the DOTr said manual contact tracing forms will still be available.
Here's how you can register for MRT-3 Trace according to the DOTr:
- Log at trace.dotrmrt3.gov.ph and fill out the basic information such as full name, birth date, address, and contact number.
- After registration, the app user should activate his/her smartphone location services.
- When at an MRT-3 station, passengers need to scan the unique quick response (QR) code located at designated areas in the station.
- The user will present the verification message to the security personnel before entering the station.
Registration for the MRT-3 Trace is free, the DOTr said noting that it only requires a one-time registration for passengers to avoid duplicate accounts.
Data collected using the app will be transmitted to the MRT-3’s Data Center for security and easy tracing of individuals, the DOTr said as it assured the riding public that MRT-3 Trace is compliant with the Data Privacy Act.