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Hired contact tracers to begin work on Oct. 1, Año says


Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said contact tracers who will be hired could begin their work on October 1.

"Ang target natin is October 1 mag-start na sila ng work nila. Tamang-tama naman na 'yun din 'yung period na mare-release 'yung budget sa atin. So inuna lang talaga natin ma-fulfill 'yung recruitment, maipasa nila 'yung requirements then they can start working," Año said at a Laging Handa press briefing.

September 23 is the deadline for those who wish to apply as contact tracers. The Department of the Interior and Local Government is aiming to hire at least 50,000 contact tracers to intensify the government's contact tracing efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Año said the bulk of the hired contact tracers would be deployed to Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City where there is still a large number of active COVID-19 cases.

"Mas marami tayong ilalagay sa lugar na nangangailangan at mayroon pa rin namang maiiwan doon sa low active cases para sigurado din naman na tuloy-tuloy 'yung pagcontact tracing," he said.

"So kung saan 'yung matataas like in Metro Manila, 9,285 contact tracers 'yung ating kinuha dito at Quezon City 'yung maraming pupuntahan din niyan sapagkat ito 'yung marami pa rin tayong active cases," he added.

Earlier, the DILG said those who would be given priority in the hiring process include contractual personnel whose employment were not renewed, overseas Filipino workers whose employment were disrupted, local employees whose service have been recently terminated, and barangay health workers.

It added that to qualify, the applicant must have a degree or must acquire a college level in an allied medical or criminology course.

Contact tracers would earn a minimum of P18,784 per month in a contract of service status, the DILG said. —KBK, GMA News

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