The Valenzuela city government on Monday officially implemented the use of the Valenzuela Tracing Application (ValTrace app).
Under local city ordinance 783 s.2020, the city government requires even non-Valenzuela residents to register and download their own QR codes via the ValTrace app, as part of the city’s preventive measures against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
With the use of the app, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said all establishment owners, commercial operators, and merchants are prohibited from the practice of manual collection of details through contact tracing forms within their business locations.
“Valtrace is now in full swing. Bawal na ang manual sa (Manual is no longer allowed in) Valenzuela. Lahat QR code scanning na. Valtrace being implemented city-wide today),” Gatchalian said in a social media post.
The local government said its City Business Inspection and Audit Team is currently conducting inspections to ensure that the new contact tracing system is strictly enforced in businesses.
The city government urged residents to always bring their ValTrace’s quick response (QR) codes and Quarantine Pass (QPass) with them, particularly when going outside their home premises and when entering enclosed indoor establishments within the city.
Residents and merchants can contact the city’s Online Programs Technical Support and Dispatch Center through hotline number 8352-1000 loc. 1309/1531, for questions and other technical concerns.
Both establishments and individuals are required to register in the ValTrace app by signing up at http://valtrace.appcase.net as “citizen” (for the individual) and as “merchant” (for the establishment), the city government added.
For the user manual, they are encouraged to visit https://bit.ly/ValTrace for downloadable signages.
Meanwhile, the city government said those merchants or businesses who are experiencing an error with their VAlTrace app should refresh it or download the latest version of the app via https://valtrace.appcase.net/, message the PaspasPermitTechSupport, tweet to @PaspasPermit or email at valtracesupport@valenzuela.gov.ph for more concerns.
“Mag sign in lamang ulit sa inyong existing Merchant account at i-download ang bagong (just sign in with your existing account and download the new) APK,” the city government said in an advisory.
The city government said registration for the ValTrace app is free.
The city government reiterated that all customers, visitors, and employees of public and private establishments are not allowed to enter premises unless they present their own ValTrace-generated unique personal QR Code.
The ordinance stated that individuals who will violate the contact tracing efforts would be fined PHP1,000 for the first offense and PHP3,000 for the second offense.
For the third and succeeding offenses, one would be penalized with a PHP5,000 fine and/or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, subject to the discretion of the court.
Meanwhile, non-compliant establishments will be penalized with a PHP5,000 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. (PNA)
