Gov't partners with tech firms to create COVID-19 data platform app: official

MANILA - Several tech companies have offered to create an app that would collate all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data in the Philippines, a task force official said Monday.

The government has partnered with several companies to launch a system where data from hospital and local governments would be reported to a "common platform" so that officials can base decisions on a "single collection point," National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesperson retired Gen. Restituto Padilla told DZMM.

Padilla did not give further details about the development of the app, but said that it was important to ensure that government officials would make "informed decisions."

"Napakaimportante ng accuracy ng data kasi dito napupunta 'yung gagawin natin hakbang pagkatapos ng enhance community quarantine," he said.

(Accuracy of data is very important because we use these as the basis of our next steps after the enhanced community quarantine.)
 
"Hindi tayong puwedeng padalos-dalos sa pagdedesisyon sa mga bagay na hindi natin naiintindihan ng husto," he said.

(We cannot act rashly on things we do not fully understand.)

Several health experts earlier requested to extend the lockdown of Luzon - the Philippines' most populous island - to gather more accurate data about COVID-19 transmissions in the country, Padilla said.

"Bagamat kulang pa at hindi ganun ka-accurate, nagkakaroon naman ng assessment," he said.