Filtered By: Topstories
News

DILG to continue hiring contact tracers until target is reached, says spox


The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will continue to hire contact tracers until they reach their target of at least 50,000 as part of the efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued Thursday, DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency's provincial and city field offices would continue to accept applications. Earlier, it was announced that September 23 is the deadline for the submission of applications.

“What’s important to us is to fill up the slots and recruit the most number of contact tracers as provided in the Bayanihan 2 law so those who meet the deadline will immediately be processed but we will continue to accept applications until we have met our targets,” Malaya said.

Malaya said some 10,000 individuals have already applied in Metro Manila but many have incomplete documents so they are giving them more time to complete their requirements on a first-come first-served basis.

“As soon as they are deemed qualified by the selection board, they will be hired, trained, and deployed to the various LGUs,” Malaya said.

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

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.

“While our first preference is college graduates or college level of allied medical courses or criminology, we are also open to graduates or college level of any course. So, we urge them to apply and help the country defeat COVID-19,” Malaya said.

The DILG said contact tracers would earn a minimum of P18,784 per month in a contract of service status. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT