More contact tracers can now be hired by local government units in the National Capital Region to help curb the spread of COVID-19, with an additional P65 million earmarked by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the Labor department said Friday.
“The local governments through their respective Public Employment Service Offices can boost their contact tracing with the additional funding,” Labor Secretary Silvestro Bello III said.
He says the additional fund still comes from DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged /Displaced Workers program.
TUPAD is a cash-for-work program of meant to aid informal workers displaced by the pandemic.
DOLE earlier shifted the program for the contact tracing of LGUs.
As of April 22, 2021, contact tracing applications received by LGUs reached more than 10,000, according to the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns.
“The Labor department will extend all the necessary assistance it can provide to LGUs to strengthen our fight against the pandemic,” Bello said.
“In doing this, I hope that we clearly deliver the message that partnerships are relevant in beating the virus and pursuing national recovery.”
The LGUs had funding woes in its contact tracing programs, but DOLE responded with its TUPAD program.
“Since the DILG has problems funding the contact tracing of LGUs, I thought it wise to offer our TUPAD program for that purpose. In this manner, we are not only providing emergency employment to our displaced workers but also helping the urgent need of the community to stop the spread of the disease through contact tracing,” he said.