CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is working with the local government of Pulilan in Bulacan for the pilot implementation of Tanod Covid application that could help control the spread of the dreaded virus.
The application, through the support of the DOST, allows persons who experience signs of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to report their conditions via text message directly to their local government unit (LGU).
Angelita Parungao, Provincial Science and Technology director, said on Friday her office has initially briefed municipal officials of Pulilan on the features of the app and how this can help the LGU in mapping out strategies to combat the disease.
“Through Tanod Covid, a person who may be infected with the coronavirus disease may report symptoms via text message to a dedicated number assigned to a particular LGU,” Parungao said in a statement.
“The text message is free,” she added.
Earlier, Globe Telecom has committed to providing the LGUs and their constituents access to the app free of charge.
She also said through the app, the LGU may easily determine high-risk areas in their locality based on the reports that will be received.
“This will allow the LGU to know which communities need priority during mass testing of Covid-19. This will make the contact-tracing and monitoring of cases easier,” she added.
Parungao said the app has already been adopted by LGUs in other parts of the country.
The development of the app was made possible through the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in collaboration with the Department of Health, Ateneo De Manila University, and the University of the Philippines.
It is one of the features of the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeller or FASSSTER app. (PNA)
