Davao mandates use of QR code

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The use of quick response or QR code will be mandatory in this city to facilitate contact tracing.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued an executive order (EO) on the use of QR code starting Saturday amid a surge in confirmed cases as more activities were allowed in the city, which is under a more relaxed modified general community quarantine or MGCQ.

As of Monday, the Department of Health regional office said Davao City has 1,055 active cases.

Carpio stressed the need to control the spread of the infection, noting that COVID beds at the Southern Philippines Medical Center as well as temporary treatment and monitoring facilities are fully occupied.

Under the EO, a no QR code, no entry policy will be imposed even for non-residents.

All those leaving three meters away from their homes were advised to bring their QR code as barangay personnel will randomly scan people within their area of responsibility.

Border closure

In Benguet, the Sangguniang Bayan appealed to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to reconsider shutting down their common border.

Magalong ordered restricted access of Itogon residents to Baguio City on Monday after the town recorded a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Itogon listed almost 400 cases in the past four days following mass testing.

Itogon councilors said Magalong’s advisory is “discriminatory”as it targeted only Itogon residents, many of them employed in establishments in Baguio.

They gave assurance that the municipal government is doing its best to control the spread of the virus.

BIR office closed

In Cotabato City, the Bureau Internal Revenue (BIR) district office 107 was closed for disinfection after nine employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The district office advised the public to pay their taxes in banks in the meantime.

The remaining employees of the BIR office underwent swab testing while those infected were quarantined.