DILG nears its target of hiring 50,000 contact tracers

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is nearing its target of hiring 50,000 contact tracers to boost the government's efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said a total of 46,338 contact tracers are deployed in various local government units across the country to assist in the government's response against the disease. 

"The low number of cases we are experiencing now is partly a result of our ramped up contact tracing capacity which immediately cuts the community transmission once a COVID patient is identified," Año said in a press statement.

“Our battle against COVID-19 is likely to be a long haul until our medical experts find a vaccine and a cure. With the help of the 46,338 contact tracers who are now embedded in the localities, the task of fighting and containing the virus will be much easier and will be carried out more efficiently," he added. 

He said a total of 6,664 qualified applicants nationwide are in the latter phase of the hiring process to determine who will fill the 50,000 target number. 

“We are geared towards completing the 50,000 contact tracers in compliance with the law and we are going to hire the remaining 4,000 within the week,” the DILG chief stated. 

According to Año, the National Capital Region (NCR), as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, obtained the most number of contact tracers with 7,362. It was followed by Region III with 5,026 contact tracers; Region VII with 4,241; 3,679 for Calabarzon; 3,306 for Region VI; Region IX with 3,267; Region XI with 3,041; Region V with 2,736; CARAGA with 2,544; and, 2,000 for Region X.
     
MIMAROPA has 1,529 new contact tracers while Region XII got 1,501. BARMM has 1,480 contact tracers; Region I with 1,445; Region VIII with 1,395; Region II with 1,215; and CAR with 571.

He said the 46,338 new contact tracers are on top of the 97,400 contact tracers who were previously hired. 

Meanwhile, Año tasked localities in typhoon-hit areas to deploy their contact tracing teams in evacuation areas to assist in implementing minimum health standards, conducting health promotion among the evacuees, and distributing face masks and alcohol, among others.

The DILG ensured that contact tracers are equipped with complete personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies, and other vital necessities in the performance of their duties. 

Contact tracers will earn a minimum of P18,784 per month on a contract of service status, the DILG said. —KG, GMA News