15,000 contact tracers to be rehired, 1.9B budget approved

Quezon City, Philippines – After the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) approval of the 1.9 billion peso budget for the hiring of contact tracers (CTs), the Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG) is now planning to rehire 15,000 contact tracers (CTs) nationwide especially that a new strain of Coronavirus was detected.

DILG Kalinga Provincial Director Max Mayer Adong informed that forty (40) CTs are needed to be hired for the province of Kalinga.

He also said that these to be hired CTs shall receive the same monthly 18,737 amount of compensation as last year, as well as transportation allowance and a communication allowance.

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that contact tracing should be sustained “especially with the reported entry of the new UK variant into the country.”

“We are pleased that we have been given the funds to re-hire some 15,000 CTs this year who will continue to help us track down, monitor coronavirus cases, and cut transmission in the community,” Malaya added.

These CTs are to be designated in different regions the country with the National Capital Region hiring 2,381, the most number of CTs needed together with Region III which will hire 1,504 CTs and 1,417 for Region VII based on the prorated quota for hiring in 2021.

Meanwhile, Cordillera Region, the least number of CT hiring will be hiring 267 more CTs this year.

1,264 CTs shall be hired for CALABARZON; 1,052 for Region IX; 974 for Region VI; 813 for Region XI; 856 for Region V; 634 for Region X, 510 CTs for BARMM; 501 CTs for Region 1; 451 CTs will be hired in MIMAROPA; 433 in Region VIII; and 352 for Region II.

According to DILG, the quota for CTs is based on the number of active cases in a particular region. Malaya said this is based on the 30% across the board distribution to arrive at the 15,000 target of hiring of contact tracers this year.

Malaya added that DILG Field offices and LGUs are therefore directed “to conduct an immediate assessment of the performance of the contact tracers and proceed with the selection of those who have effectively and efficiently performed their assigned tasks.” He however, said that the rehiring of the 15,000 CTs will only be effective only upon the availability of funds or receipt of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) or Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) for the purpose from the DBM.