MRT-3 to soft-launch contact tracing app on Jan. 18

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) - The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will soft-launch an app meant to ease the contact tracing of passengers amid the pandemic on January 18.

The app called 'MRT-3 Trace' will digitize the current manual contact tracing process.

"MRT-3 Trace is a web application that will help us and the passengers avoid further transmission of the virus through direct contact between our commuters and personnel. It will ease the process of contact tracing, and thus, prevent long queues in stations," MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati said in a statement.

To register, passengers may log in at trace.dotrmrt3.gov.ph and fill out the basic information such as full name, birth date, address, and contact number.

After registration, the passenger should activate his smartphone location services.

When at the MRT-3, passengers need to scan the unique quick response or QR code located in designated areas.

The passenger will present the verification message to the security personnel before entering the station.

For passengers who do have smartphones, they can still manually fill out the health declaration forms at train stations.

All information gathered will be transmitted to the MRT-3 Data Center.

Capati said the full implementation of the contact tracing app will be in February.