DILG, maaaring i-realign ang pondo para ma-cover ang re-employment ng contact tracers – Avisado

MAAARING i-realign ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang pondo nito para ma-cover ang re-employment ng contact tracers (CTs).

Ito ang inihayag ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado bilang pagbibigay katiyakan matapos na sabihin ng DILG noong Enero 16 na maaari lamang silang makapag-rehire ng 15,000 CTs sa ilalim ng six-month contract bunsod ng kagipitan sa pondo.

Ang DILG ay nakapag-hire lamang ng 50,000 contact tracers noong nakaraang taon.

“Modification lang po kailangan po n’yan, sandali lang po iyan. Hindi na po aakyat sa Pangulo ‘iyan. Dito na lang sa level ko, na-approve ko na po iyan,” ayon kay Sec. Avisado sa Laging Handa briefing.

“Wala pong problema patungkol diyan,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Sa ulat, muling tatanggap ang Department of the Interior and Local Government ng 15,000 pang contact tracers (CTs) para sa COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts.

“While the country’s COVID-19 response is significantly improving, we should sustain our contact tracing efforts especially with the reported entry of the new UK coronavirus variant into the country,” saad sa kalatas ng DILG.

“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,” ani DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

“Much as we would like to continue the services of all the 50,000 CTs hired in 2020, we need to have a more rational number of CTs and work within the available budget allotted to the Department.  Hence, only 15,000 CTs will be re-hired under a six-month contract in the meantime while we wait for the release of additional funds.”

“DILG field offices and the LGUs are 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,” punto pa nito.

Sa memorandum na nilagdaan ni DILG Officer-in-Charge Bernardo Florece, Jr., inatasan ang DILG regional directors na magtungo ang lahat ng DILG-hired contact tracers sa kani-kanilang mga rehiyon upang ibailik ang kanilang identification cards sa local government unit (LGU) sa pagtatapos ng kanilang kontrata noong  December 31, 2020.  (Daris Jose)