MALACANANG called on the local government units (LGUs) to fast-track the creation of a unified database of vaccinated Filipinos.
The list of recipients’ information will form part of the national verification database system being undertaken by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Interviewed over television, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the DICT has already created the Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS) for the verification of an individual’s vaccination status.
“Ang kinakailangan natin para mag-work ang ating vaccination card na common for all, na digital na at may QR code, is ‘yung success rate or accomplishment rate ng pag-upload. Kasi siyempre ‘pag ginagamit mo ngayon, minsan meron tayong mga kababayan na ‘pag sinusubukan nila, records not found kasi kailangan i-upload ng LGU,” Nograles was quoted as saying during the interview.
“Kaya ito ‘yung tinututukan ng DICT together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government ‘no ‘yung pagre-remind constantly and pag-push sa LGUs na i-upload n’yo. May backlog sa uploading e,” he added.
Nograles explained that the completion of the central database would make it easier for LGUs to verify the vaccination status of an individual as it only requires a smartphone or a printed copy of an individual’s QR code.
The Palace official also hinted at the possibility of using the system for traveling abroad. He, however, admitted that they are still in the process of coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek guidelines on the international verification system for COVID-19 vaccinations, adding that these guidelines would play a crucial role in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the international community is already holding discussions on the issuance of international certificates for COVID-19 vaccination similar to the WHO’s yellow card.