“We need to have a more rational number of contact tracers and work within the available budget allotted to the department,” DILG undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said Saturday in a statement. With a funding of P1.9 billion, the DILG said it will only be rehiring around 15,000 contact tracers for a six-month contract while it waits for the release of additional funds for more contact tracers. Malaya said Metro Manila would be rehiring the most number of contact tracers among all regions, with the DILG planning to redeploy 2,381 contact tracers in the capital region. Malaya said Metro Manila would be the top region which would rehire the most number of contact tracers, with the capital region seen to rehire 2,381 of them. Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas follow Metro Manila, with the two regions seen to rehire 1,504 and 1,417 contact tracers respectively.

Source: Philippine Star January 16, 2021 03:33 UTC