Gov supports “TALOFAPass” system despite public concerns

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government has begun to “transition the management and workflow of the “TALOFAPass” websystem, which screens travelers entering American Samoa, to the ASG’s Technology Office that is overseen by the Governor’s Office.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga mentioned the transition when he shared an update about TALOFAPass, in his official written English address Monday to the opening of the Fono joint session of the 4th Regular session.

The governor’s address to the Fono at Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium was delivered in Samoan and also mentioned briefly achievements of TALOFAPass, which also serves as the Territory’s IT Solution for contact tracing when it comes to arrival passengers who test COVID-19 positive.

In his English speech, the governor explained that the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for American Samoa especially “in our capacity to respond and provide adequate healthcare for our citizens” and one of the strategies that proved to have an immediate impact, was to close off the island completely.

“As the right opportunity presented itself that allowed American Samoa to move further into the digital age, TALOFAPass was developed to provide safe travel protocols, quarantine tracking, and contact tracing,” he explained and announced the transition of management and workflow of the TALOFAPass to the Technology office.

The governor declared that, “TALOFAPass continues to be ASG’s premiere IT Solution in monitoring and verification of the entry of travelers safely as we begin to open up our borders again.”

Additionally, TALOFAPass system is a tool that ASG has chosen to invest in to improve the resilience of the local Immigration Office and the Health Department and further improve the safety of the territory.

“This is technology innovation at work and has been modeled by what other states and territories have developed to integrate government operations during a pandemic,” he said and declared that: “We are ahead of our time with this development and the idea was born right here in American Samoa.”

Since TALOFAPass’s deployment, the governor said a total of the 9,618 people registered on the American Samoa safe-travel portal. He said 5,789 travelers were approved to travel into the territory and those who did not travel either tested positive for COVID-19, did not have valid travel documents or changed their travel plans.

“ASG will continue to invest in leveraging technology to further improve government work to be more efficient. We will prioritize producing more IT professionals here at home, to manage applications similar to TALOFAPass,” he pointed out.

Lemanu said he has “full confidence that the TALOFAPass application will continue to serve its purpose and will give American Samoa the tools needed to bridge the digital divide. I understand the challenges that travelers are facing, and I ask for your patience as we continue to improve the TALOFAPass experience for everyone.”

TALOFAPass has been the subject of much criticism especially on social media with travelers from Samoa, who are required to register on the portal, complaining about the registration process. There have also been calls by travelers from the U.S to eliminate having to register on TALOFAPass, which some claimed to be an obstacle.

Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who is also the COVID-19 Task Force chairman, reiterated during a recent news conference that the TALOFAPass system remains in place and all travelers must register on this portal for entry into the territory.

Late last week the TALOFAPass help desk issued a reminder to travelers to the territory that they are still required to register on the TALOFAPass portal. Once registered, this allows the Immigration Office, DoH, the Department of Agriculture, and Customs Division to review and approve “travel documents, vaccination cards and any declarations you may make,” it says.

Furthermore, ASG continues to operate under the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration status “and continues to control carriers and travelers traveling into American Samoa for the protection of public health.”

“For travelers coming in from the U.S mainland, if you do not register on TALOFAPass, you are at risk of having your booked flight cancelled by Hawaiian Airlines 24 hours prior to the flight because the American Samoa Government will not have had the time to approve you for entry,” the help desk said.

“Please register on TALOFAPass in order for ASG to approve your entry into the territory at least 3 to 5 days before your flight,” it says.

More information and how to register on TALOFAPass is on the ASG website (www.americansamoa.gov) or TALOFAPass Facebook page.