Gov’t to tap 1,500 people to run mega swabbing centers

The government will need 1,500 people to run the four mega swabbing centers which were put up in order to ramp up the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity.

In a televised briefing on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is looking for swabbers, encoders and bar coders.

“Lahat naman po sila ay susuwelduhan ng ating gobyerno kasama po ang hazard pay,” he said.

“Iyong mga volunteers, mayroon din po silang bayad at kung gusto nilang bumalik sa kanilang regular na trabaho, hahanap po tayo ng mga panibagong volunteers.”

On Tuesday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea directed Cabinet members to each submit to the Office of the President a list of at least 100 personnel who will be assigned to as encoders and bar coders at the swabbing centers.

Medialdea said the government workers will receive necessary training, protective medical equipment, accommodation, food, and transportation to and from the mega swabbing centers.

These government employees will also receive COVID-19 hazard pay and/or special risk allowance.

The four mega swabbing centers are located at the Palacio de Maynila in Pasay City, the Enderun Tent in Taguig City, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, and the Philippine Sports Stadium in Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The government aims to conduct 5,000 tests per day in all four swabbing centers, and a total of 30,000 tests  per day by the end of May.

Roque, meanwhile, said the National Children’s Hospital in Quezon City has been designated as a quarantine facility for pregnant overseas Filipino workers who came back to the country due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Lima na pong mga na-quarantine na OFW ang nanganak, iyong isa po ang pangalan ay Covid Bryant,” he said. —LDF, GMA News