The national government is set to hire a total of 5,754 contract tracers (CTs) in Metro Manila n a bid to enhance the country’s battle against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), especially in the National Capital Region which is considered as the epicenter of the infection.
On May 1, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) that set the implementing guidelines for the hiring, training and deployment of 5,754 contact tracers (CTs) in Metro Manila for three months beginning May.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said Sunday, May 2 that the number of CTs is 1,000 more than the 4,754 that was originally committed by the DOLE to be hired under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD Program (TUPAD) program.
“We thank DOLE for allocating more funds for the hiring of contact tracers. Sa tulong ng inisyatibong ito, mapipigilan natin ang patuloy na pagkalat ng coronavirus habang binibigyan ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababayang lubhang naapektuhan ng pandemiya (We the help of this initiative, we will prevent the spread of the coronavirus while providing jobs to those who were severely affected by the pandemic),” Año said.
“So far, 13,304 have applied for the available positions and 2,696 have already been assessed/qualified,’’ the DILG said.
Of the 5,754 new CTs, Año said that 1,347 will be deployed in Quezon City; 713 in Caloocan City; 707 in Manila; 349 in Pasig; 333 in Taguig; and 302 in Parañaque. Another 278 will be assigned in Valenzuela; 259 in Makati; 234 in Muntinlupa; 268 in Las Piñas; and 209 in Marikina.
He added that the remaining 192 will be in Pasay; 171 in Mandaluyong; 161 in Navotas; 152 in Malabon; 47 in San Juan; and 32 in Pateros.
In January, the DILG already deployed 2,381 contact tracers in Metro Manila for a six-month contract until June.
The DILG utilized the unreleased balance from the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and the P500M Contact Tracing budget in the 2021 General Appropriations Act for the hiring of the additional contact tracers.
In March, the DILG deployed an additional 802 contact tracers composed of police officers and BFP personnel from other parts of the country under low-risk category.
All the contact tracers are assigned to the Local Contact Tracing Task Forces under the supervision of the City/Municipal Health Officers of the LGUs.
To signal the start of deployment of the contact tracers, there was also a ceremonial simultaneous deployment of five contact tracers wearing TUPAD t-shirts and showing their contracts of service at the Quezon City, Manila, Muntinlupa, Paraňaque, and Pateros Public Employment Service Offices during the virtual ceremony.
“This deployment is part of our continuous effort to intensify our contact tracing program to contain Covid-19. Simula na ng kanilang pagtatrabaho bilang contact tracers at simula na rin ng dagdag na alalay at pag-asa para sa ating mga kababayan na makakabangon tayong muli mula sa pandemiyang ito,” said Año.
Under DOLE-DILG-MMDA JMC 2021-01, DOLE allocated P280.714-million for the three months’ salary of 5,754 contract tracers at P537/day which is the minimum wage rate at the National Capital Region under its TUPAD program.
The new CTs shall also be enrolled in GSIS Group Personal Accident Insurance (GPAI) and will undergo orientation on safety and health and provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as long sleeves TUPAD t-shirt, face mask, face shield, and ID.
On the other hand, the DILG, shall facilitate the creation of a selection committee in every local government unit in NCR which shall be responsible for the screening and assessment of the applicants based on the guidelines of DOLE’s TUPAD program.
The selection committee shall be composed of the Local Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager as chairperson, and the DILG Field Office Director and a representative from the City Health Department/ Local Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (LESU) as members.
The DILG through the DILG-NCR shall also conduct the training of all the new CTs using the module developed by the Local Government Academy, Department of Health- Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD), and Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).
On the other hand, the MMDA is tasked to assist in the dissemination of information on the hiring of TUPAD contact tracers, monitor the implementation of the project, and help in the proper dissemination of information of the project. (Chito A. Chavez)