Travelers are being encouraged to use the Department of Science and Technology’s mobile application Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) for an easier and more convenient journey.
The S-PaSS is an online system intended to efficiently manage travels of local workers, returning overseas Filipinos, local tourists, and others who need to go on business from one province to the other.
It can be used as a travel management system, an online communication and coordination platform for travelers, local government units, and other monitoring agencies.
For travelers, information on the travel policies of all LGUs particularly when traveling by air and sea can be obtained through the app.
With S-PaSS, the travelers can be guided whether the destination is “Restricted” or “Unrestricted”.
If the LGU is on a “Restricted” level, a “Travel Coordination Permit (TCP)” should be applied, but if the LGU is declared as “Unrestricted”, yet the traveler needs to pass through “Restricted” LGUs, a “Travel Pass-Through Permit” can be generated and presented.
The S-Pass helps LGUs in organizing and ensuring a systematic way of posting information about their travel policies and requirements that can be processed online.
This ensures a smooth flow of updating the needed requirements per LGU when it declares a “Restricted” travel policy.
LGUs can also verify the authenticity of documents, monitor, and generate records of incoming travelers along with their travel histories that can be useful in facilitating coordination among provincial and cities/municipalities.
The system can also help the Philippine National Police guide residents going to other LGUs in applying for travel documents when needed; help the LGUs in monitoring travelers in their territories; and verify the authenticity of travel documents presented.
In Region 1, all the provinces have activated their S-PaSS accounts and have updated their travel policies.
The DOST encourages travelers to register by logging in to https://s-pass.ph using their personal mobile numbers.
From there, the documents required by the LGU of destination and their restrictions on travel can be viewed. TCPs can be submitted through the website.
Travelers are advised to apply one to two days before their trip as the duration of approval depends on the LGU and not the system.
As of April, there are already 646,638 registered users of the system nationwide, with 86,944 coming from Region I.
The smooth implementation of the system can be attributed to the responsible contribution and action of the travelers, the LGUs, the PNP, and monitoring agencies. – Carla Joyce Cajala
