Philippine software company Multisys Technologies Corporation, the National Task Force COVID-19, local government units, and various private organizations have recently joined forces in the spirit of bayanihan through the digital emergency response platform StaySafe.ph.
MultiSys developed the community-driven health-reporting system to further aid the government contain and mitigate the ramifications brought by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through allowing them to track and respond to the health conditions of Philippine residents.
With StaySafe.ph, users are encouraged to share their current state of health, as well as their respective household members, while also protecting their identity and other sensitive information. Users can choose in the list of COVID-19 symptoms, whichever may be applicable to them, to determine if they are in good condition or fall under mild or severe cases.
Users can also contribute further to this cause as StaySafe offers the option to help through service (for frontliners, doctors and health workers), donations (cash or goods), and suggestions.
“We developed StaySafe.ph to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by mobilizing our kababayans through this “Digital Bayanihan” platform that they can use to report their health conditions—at the safety of their own homes,” MultiSys Chief Executive Officer and founder David Almirol Jr. said. “Enabling our fellow citizens to protect themselves through this digital tool will aid the government’s efforts to monitor cases nationwide and provide assistance to those in need.”
With the number of positive cases continuously rising, the government continues to call on Filipinos to stay at home and practice social distancing, in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Staying at home helps the country significantly in combating COVID-19. StaySafe.ph will allow the Filipino public to take part in the bayanihan effort to prevent the spread of this disease by protecting themselves and their loved ones at home. We hope everyone will register and use the app so we can continue to heal as one,” the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito G. Galvez said.
The National Task Force COVID-19 will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and local government units around the country to manage the StaySafe.ph platform. The government will be able to use the health reports submitted by citizens to identify which areas are highly affected by the pandemic and decide on actions to be taken.
It is expected that two to three million users will join StaySafe.ph. MultiSys and the National Task Force COVID-19 are also closely collaborating to expedite the release of its mobile application, which will be available for both Android and iOS users. The mobile app will provide real-time alerts to LGUs of vulnerable areas to efficiently manage risks and calibrate actions.
Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, Almirol said StaySafe.ph could also be used by the government in the future to ensure quick and decisive disaster response to other crises.
