Starting on October 05, 2020, the city government of Valenzuela will prohibit all establishments to conduct manual contact tracing. An automated contact tracing application called “ValTrace” will be implemented to intensify the contact tracing against the threat of COVID-19 pandemic. All enclosed indoor establishments including malls, restaurants, banks, churches, grocery stores, wet markets and the like will be required to scan QR codes upon entering.
The city government has earlier passed Ordinance 783 s.2020, mandating Valenzuela and non-Valenzuela residents to register and download their own QR codes. The NO QR CODE, NO ENTRY policy will be strictly implemented on all enclosed indoor establishments.
“In light of the emerging cases of Covid-19, the city government of Valenzuela takes the lead in using contactless forms—maximizing the use of technology by developing software that could help in contact tracing and in the prevention of further transmission of Covid-19,” the local government said.
Valenzuela city also assured the public under a Memorandum of Agreement and Data Sharing, Processing and Non Disclosure Agreement signed by the Appcase,Inc that the personal information is protected and will only be used by City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU)
The ordinance will penalize establishments that will not follow the ValTrace protocol. P P5,000 fine and suspension of franchise or business permit until the violation has been rectified for the first offense, and PHP10,000 with 24 hours of community service and suspension of franchise or business permit until the violation has been corrected for the second offense. For the third and succeeding offenses, the establishment will be fined PHP15,000 and its franchise or business permit would be revoked.
