The side project is a mobile app that allows people to access and submit COVID19-essential resources in the Philippines such as medical advice, hotlines, and maps that could be useful to anyone with a mobile phone. I started working on the app at 7:00 am, and it was up and running by 5:00 pm of the same day. At its peak in April, the app had more than 500 downloads.
- Skills: Crowdsourcing, information architecture
- Tools used: Glide mobile app creator, Google Sheets
How I built the app
One Sunday morning (March 29), I learned about an app with the same purpose but specific for Americans. It was built on a website that only required Google Sheets. I’m not really a web app developer and only have basic knowledge of computer programming.
I’ve been keeping abreast of the COVID19 news in the Philippines, and I thought I could create something similar but specifically for Filipinos. I saw that many groups, organizations and private citizens rose up to the occasion to offer services that are difficult if not impossible to avail of given the ECQ. It’s great that those resources are out there, but there is no one-stop shop to access them. So I thought about consolidating those information through this app that could be useful for every Filipino who has a mobile phone. It also has a feature for people to submit other links and resources because I know people are willing to share information especially in this time of need. I worked in Typhoon Haiyan disaster response and recovery so I’m aware that it is a very difficult time for many, but it is also a perfect time to come together and help each other.
About the tabs
- Home: Includes a link to a risk assessment page created by another group in cooperation with the Department of Health. It also has a button for users to submit other COVID19-related resources online that are not yet included in the app.
- Consult: Links to Facebook, and Twitter pages of organizations and private individuals that offer (free) advice on medical, dental, and mental health concerns, and even a veterinarian.
- Resources: Other important resources such as a dashboard showing COVID19 information, and the emergency transportation options available.
- Maps: Shows links to a Google map where people can find Level 2 and 3 hospitals and go to get tested. Another map is maintained by the University of the Philippines that tracks COVID19 cases.
Try the app on this page (opens in a new tab).
