DILG: Around 1,000 new contact tracers expected to start this week

Around 1,000 newly-hired contact tracers are expected to start with their job this week, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya on Monday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Malaya said over 10,000 have applied as contact tracers. Of which, more than 2,000 applications were already assessed by the DILG.

"Doon sa 5,754 na idedeploy natin sa National Capital Region ay 2,696 na po ang na-assess natin at more than 10,000 po ang nag-apply," Malaya said.

(In the 5,754 who will be deployed in NCR, a total of 2,696 were already assessed. More than 10,000 have applied as contact tracers.)

"We expect siguro by this week mayroon nang magsisimula na magtrabaho sa contact tracers, around 1,000 ay makakatapos na ng kanilang training na isasagawa ng DILG at Local Government Academy," he added.

(We expect that by this week, around 1,000 will start with the job as contact tracers after finishing the training conducted by the DILG and the Local Government Academy.)

Over the weekend, the DILG, Department of Labor and Employment and the Metro Manila Development Authority signed an agreement aimed at boosting the hiring of contact tracers.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the memorandum of agreement with the DILG and MMDA aims to employ close to 6,000 contact tracers that will be tasked to help curb the spread of COVID-19 infections in the country.

A total of P280,714,644 chargeable to the 2021 General Appropriations Act funds of DOLE budget shall be used to employ 5,754 workers to be engaged as contact tracers, he added. — RSJ, GMA News