OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)–In preparation for the deployment of contact tracers to all cities and municipalities in the province, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Misamis Occidental administered the signing of contract of services to 216 newly hired contact tracers at ABC Gymnasium, Oroquieta City.
Simultaneously, a refresher training on the fundamentals of contact tracing using pre-recorded audiovisual materials by the Department of Health (DOH) was conducted.
Reminders of good conduct and ethical considerations at work as well as reiteration of various administrative requirements and their duties and obligations were other highlights of the activity.
Noting that these contact tracers shall assist and boost local government units’ (LGUs) COVID-19 active surveillance measures, DILG Provincial Director Pablio L. Benitez, Jr. said, “Of the total 499 applicants considered and underwent virtual deliberation for this vacancy, congratulations for making it this far. You will not only provide for your family amid the pandemic, but you will also play a significant role in winning the fight against COVID-19.”
Moreover, Benitez underscored the need-based deployment of contact tracers across the province.
“As much as I want you to be assigned in the place of your residence, your deployment is need-based. With this, you will function as an augmentation team to LGUs which may have a high incidence of COVID-19 cases,” he said.
Benitez added that the deployment plan for the province is currently under review and per interim guidelines on the deployment of the DILG-hired contact tracers, they shall be assigned in their locality or in adjoining LGUs but depending on the demand, may be deployed in other areas outside their designated station in some instances.
On the actual deployment, DILG City/Municipal Local Government Operations Officers shall coordinate with concerned LGUs to ensure smooth interfacing and integration of the contact tracers in the locality. The length of their engagement shall be strictly from October 1 until the end of December 31, 2020.
The department cannot overemphasize the demand for contact tracers who are trained in dealing with the sensitivities governing the established DOH protocols and other practical approaches in tracing the close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients.
Along with the close supervision of DILG field officers together with the local health units, the newly hired contact tracers are expected to contribute to the maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of COVID19, in the ongoing development of current protocols, guidance and standard operating procedures and in the advocacy relative to the implementation of mandatory physical distancing measures at an individual level. (DILG Misamis Occidental/PIA Misamis Occidental)
