Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor asked the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to use the S-Pass or the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage optional for travelers after receiving a report that people have found a way to monetize it.
According to Dolor, not everyone has a smartphone and is used to using it.
“Kaya sumulat po ako 2 days ago sa IATF at personally itong ni-receive ni Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. Ang request ko po, sana gawin siyang optional,” he said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched S-PaSS to make it no longer difficult for travelers to get information on destinations.
“Yun dating policy ng province na kung saan yung travel coordination pass ay ibinibigay ng local government unit doon sa mga hindi kayang mag-register using the smartphone, kasi nagiging biktima pa po ng maraming korapsiyon at saka fixers sa Batangas port. Marami na po akong report na natanggap, kaya po ako sumulat kay IATF two days ago,” he said.
The governor did not elaborate on what was reported on his issue of corruption and fixers at the port.
Or. Mindoro governor wants to make use of S-PaSS optional
But according to him, Nograles acted quickly on his letter.
“Agad ay pinatawag sa amin ang DOST na siyang nag-develop ng S-PaSS upang magkaroon ng pag-uusap, ano yung best way to address yung concern ng Oriental Mindoro, ayon sa aking request,” he said.
Meanwhile, the province on Wednesday launched the Oriental Mindoro COVID Command Center to refer better patients who need to be confined to hospitals.
“Meron na tayong centralized COVID hospital command kung saan doon tatawag yung municipal health o city health o mamamayang kailangang dalhin sa ospital, para yung mismong command center ang nagre-refer doon sa may available na kwarto. So mas mabilis yung response,” he said.
He also said that COVID-19 cases in their area are more stable now compared to last month.
“Nagsimula lang naman yan nung nag-open ang borders noong March 1. From 7 active positive cases, lumobo ulit. Pero ngayon, mas controlled. Nagba-vary na lang between 490 to 510 active cases, pero hindi na lumalampas doon,” he said.
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