The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has employed more than 2,000 contact tracers and secured 50,000 pieces of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test kits as it plans to conduct aggressive test and tracing efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
“We’ve got three from the DOLE We’ve got the joint Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) the RIATF-NCR and RTF-NCR Resolution on recommending the retention of the 2,481 of DILG contact tracers,” said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos during a Go Negosyo’s Vax to the Max Facebook Live discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 5.
“We’re just finding the legality here sa budget pero um-oo na po si Secretary Año in principle dito, and the third are the nurses from the DOH, um-oo na rin po si Secretary Duque III. Inaayos pa po ang budget kasi pasarado po ang taon (We’re just finding the legality here but Secretary Año already agreed to this in principle, and third are the nurses from DOH, Secretary Duque also agreed to this. We are just fixing the budget since the year just ended),” he added.
The employment of contact-tracers were assisted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health while the test kits were provided by Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon.
In highlighting the need for aggressive contact-tracing and tests, Abalos noted a gradual increase on the occupancy rate of the government-run isolation facilities for those who tested positive.
He said 95 facilities have a 34.15 percent occupancy rate as early as Jan. 1.
“I hope those from Metro Manila will understand we’ve made this as an emergency restriction dahil kinakailangan ngayon to protect those who are unvaccinated The secret is one thing magkatulungan ang government, LGUs, private , and everyone, madali na itong Omicron basta magkatulungan, (I hope those from Metro Manila will understand we’ve made this as an emergency restriction because we need to protect the unvaccinated The secret to solving this crisis is for the government, LGUs, private , and everyone to come together. Omicron is beatable as long as we’re helping each other)," said Abalos.