MANILA – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Friday launched the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) Travel Management System to assist travelers amidst the various restrictions imposed during this coronavirus pandemic.
The project was developed by DOST-Regional Office 6, following the Inter-Agency Task Force’s approval on having uniform travel protocols across the country.
It serves as a “one-stop-shop,” a platform for communication and coordination among travelers and local government units (LGU’s).
“Before S-PaSS, our travelers need to look for various sources of information to know the travel policies and requirements of the almost 1,800 LGU’s all over the Philippines. They must follow different procedures to travel to these LGU’s,” DOST-6 Director Rowen Gelonga said.
The S-PaSS website features a list of more than 60 provinces, cities, and municipalities with their respective policies and requirements for the traveling public.
With the platform, LGU’s can inform the public if their areas are classified as “restricted” or “unrestricted” for travel.
Travelers going to “restricted” areas are directed to create an account on the S-PaSS’s website and submit an online application for a Travel Coordination Permit (TCP), which is equivalent to the previously mandated travel authority.
“Ang pag-apruba ng TCP ay nakasalalay sa desisyon ng LGU na pupuntahan at ito rin ang makapagsasabi kung gaano katagal o kadali makukuha ng bibiyahe ang naturang TCP,” DOST said in a press release.
Meanwhile, travelers going to “unrestricted” areas, especially if they need to go through places classified as “restricted,” must secure a Travel Pass-Through Permit (TPP).
Both permits contain QR codes that will be scanned by authorized personnel of the LGU or the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“S-PaSS is not a contact tracing app because it is intended to be used before and during the actual travel.”
DOST Sec. Fortunato De La Pena lauded the innovation saying it would help the need for information of travelers and authorities.
“Ang ginawa po natin ay tugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mamamayan na malayang makapaglakbay, sa maayos at madaking paraan na hindi kailangang i-sakripisyo ang ating kalusugan at kaligtasan.”
The S-PaSS platform was set up with the involvement of the PNP, Department of Interior and Local Government, League of Provinces of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.
