By John Clifford Lintao
THE government has terminated the process of recruiting contact tracers. Not because the government is dropping the idea but because they’ve had enough.
At the Laging Handa press briefing, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that they are now going to review all applicants. Those who’d qualify would start legwork on the first day of October.
“Ang target natin is October 1 mag-start na sila ng work nila. Tamang-tama naman na ‘yun din ‘yung period na mare-release ‘yung budget sa atin. So inuna lang talaga natin ma-fulfill ‘yung recruitment, maipasa nila ‘yung requirements then they can start working,” Año was quoted as saying.
Deadline for the submission of application is today, September 23, added Año who hinted on hiring at least 50,000 contact tracers to intensify the government’s contact tracing efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Año said the bulk of the hired contact tracers would be deployed to Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City where there is still a large number of active COVID-19 cases.
“Mas marami tayong ilalagay sa lugar na nangangailangan at mayroon pa rin namang maiiwan doon sa low active cases para sigurado din naman na tuloy-tuloy ‘yung pagcontact tracing,” he said.
“So kung saan ‘yung matataas like in Metro Manila, 9,285 contact tracers ‘yung ating kinuha dito at Quezon City ‘yung maraming pupuntahan din niyan sapagkat ito ‘yung marami pa rin tayong active cases,” he added.
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.
Contact tracers would earn a minimum of P18,784 per month in a contract of service status, the DILG said.