DAVAO CITY – The 19th City Council of Davao passed Wednesday, April 9, an Ordinance for the Mandatory Submission of a Health and Other Emergencies Contact Tracing Form for All Persons Entering Davao City by Land, Air or Sea.”
The said ordinance makes it mandatory for all returning residents, visitors, and travelers who will enter the city by any means of transportation to fill up and sign a Contact Tracing Form (CTF) before they are allowed entry to the city.
According to 3rd district Councilor Dr. Mary Joselle Villafuerte, proponent and chairperson of the Committee on Health of the City Council, the main purpose of the said ordinance is to hasten the contact of individuals who will enter the city as a preventive measure to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease-19 (Covid-19). “Madali nang malaman natin dahil kung sino siya dahil sa personal data na kinakailangan, contact details, travel history, and medical information,” said Villafuerte.
Also included in the CTF are travel data such as the flight number and date of flight in case of air travel; bus company and bus number, or vessel and date of travel; name of hotel; address of residence in Davao (if applicable); and, e-mail address, telephone and mobile phone numbers.
Villafuerte, however, assured that all information in the CTF will be kept private and confidential and will only be used for actual contact tracing of concerned individuals, if necessary.
A fine up to Php 5,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both is meted-out for those who will violate the law upon order of a competent legal court.