TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Kalinga (DILG) has deployed the 60 contact tracers that were hired to augment the existing Contact Tracing Teams (CTT) of local government units (LGUs).
Based on reports, 20 contact tracers are assigned in Tabuk City, seven in Pinukpuk, six each in Tanudan and Rizal, five in Balbalan, and four each in Lubuagan, Pasil, Tinglayan, and the provincial local government unit.
Their work includes conducting case interviews, profiling, and performing the initial public health risk assessment of COVID-19 cases and their identified close contacts. They also refer the close contacts to quarantine facilities.
In between, the contact tracers shall also help in the advocacy campaign to remind people to faithfully follow or comply with the minimum health protocols including the wearing of mask and face shield, social distancing, and washing of hands, the Cordillera office of the DILG said in a press release.
The contact tracers will work on a contract of service status from October 1 to December 31, 2020 with a monthly salary of P18,784.
The DILG had hired a total of 571 contact tracers for the Cordillera region to be distributed to LGUs. At present, contact tracing teams are led by the municipal/city health officers with members from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams, and volunteers from Civil Society Organizations.
The agency targets the hiring of 50,000 contact tracers for Luzon as prescribed in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 Law. By Iryll Sicnao