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- Though the app may help with the country’s COVID response, netizens questioned the real reason as to why the app was launched in the first place.
- The Stay Safe app is now available for download.
On September 4, the Philippines launched a COVID-19 contact tracing app to not just improve the country’s COVID response, but also to convince the public to go back to business establishments in hopes of rescuing the economy from recession.
With The Safety App, users can take a photo of QR codes in malls, restaurants, banks, public transportation like busses and trains, and other places instead of manually filling up forms for contact tracing every single time they enter and establishment.
COVID-19 testing official Vince Dizon stated that autorities will automatically notify the users of the app if someone they had close contact with were positive for the virus.
On the other hand, netizens pointed out how long overdue the app launching was as it was only made available to the public six months after the community quarantine was imposed throughout the country.
https://twitter.com/rawrfiaa/status/1301340401530318855
Finally!!! naisip din nila. https://t.co/GIjpyytq6K
— michaL Negrito (@iamsupermichal) September 3, 2020
Other netizens compared the slowness to the Internet Explorer browser.
Internet explorer tweeted: https://t.co/lcFsXuyvFP
— margo (@yowmargo) September 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/NotSoMagnus/status/1301349343111258113
A Twitter user questioned the purpose of the app as it was stated that it will be used to save the economy.
"To rescue the economy"
I guess it's all about the money, yeah? https://t.co/YKCjVz9w2o
— J (@jamverdec) September 3, 2020
Another netizen noticed the same thing.
Haha lolz the motivation. https://t.co/HnwtUzDCya
— Harvey Peralta (@harveyvore_) September 3, 2020
According to Dizon, the app aims to “build public confidence to use facilities and help rev up the economy.”
The Stay Safe app is now free for download and does not require a prepaid load to function.
