The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hire some 5,000 contract tracers in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal (NCR Plus) to augment the need for manpower to conduct contact tracing as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to rapidly increase in the said high-risk areas.

In a "Laging Handa" press briefing Friday, April 9, lawyer Karina Perida-Trayvilla, Director IV of DOLE's Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, said they will prioritize the hiring of disadvantaged or displaced workers in the NCR Plus.

Initially, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III wanted the hiring of 14,000 contact tracers who will render duty for 30 days or one month.

However, Perida-Trayvilla explained that local chief executives require contract tracers to be employed for 90 days or three months.

"With the budget 14,000 workers, i-stretch na lang po namin sa 90 days kaya siguro mga roughly mga limang libo po ang maa-accommodate para magkaroon sila nang mahaba-habang duration na trabaho. (With the budget 14,000 workers, we stretched it to 90 days so roughly 5,000 persons will be accomodated for a longer duration of work)," she said.

She said the contact tracers will be hired starting next week under the "TUPAD" (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged o Displaced) Workers Program where accepted applicants will earn P537 daily or P16,110 monthly based on the regional wage rate in NCR and in the four provinces.

"Ang gusto po natin sanang ma-hire dito iyong ating mga nasa impormal na sektor na workers at iyong mga na-displace po doon sa trabaho (We want to hire the displaced workers and those who are in the informal sector)," Perida-Trayvilla said.

She said that DOLE was still coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to finalize the details of the emergency employment program.

The contract tracers will be hired by the respective local government units (LGUs) but interested applicants may also submit their application through DOLE's Public Employment Service Office, she added.

"Kung maaari po ay kahit ang qualification na high school graduate ay tanggapin bilang isang contact tracer. So ang kailangan lang naman po ng ating contact tracers ay mayroong basic knowledge sa paggamit ng telepono at sa paggamit po ng internet (If needed, we can accept high school graduates as contact tracers. Our contact tracers only need basic knowledge on the use of telephones and internet)," Perida-Trayvilla said.

The DOLE official said the contact tracers will undergo training through the DILG online classroom where they will have to learn four modules about interventions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the use of data-gathering tools, the use of survey tools, and effective communication and questioning skills.

While undergoing training, the workers will be paid under the TUPAD program, Perida-Trayvilla said.

For inquiries, Perida-Trayvilla said that the DOLE can be contacted through their hotlines 1349 and 8404-33-36, or through the nearest field office.