Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is set to launch its contact tracing course in September that will prioritize regions with high number of COVID-19 cases.
TESDA deputy director general Lina Sarmiento told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon that the 15-day program will be offered for free.
Sarmiento also noted it is important to put extra attention to this program given the urgency of the need for more contact tracers in the country.
This will be done mainly through online, and with few face-to-face classes, she said.
As for qualifications, those with age 21 to 59 years old can apply for the program. They also need to have 10 years of basic education, or have graduated from Grade 10. If not, they should have an alternative learning system equivalent to Grade 10.
The course will involve three key competencies: basic, which will enhance learners’ communication and working skills; common, which will cover basic skills for the job like first aid; and core, which will cover major components of contact tracing like surveillance.
This was formulated with the help of experts from the Department of Health, as well as those doctors that helped in contact tracing in Baguio City, she noted.
Sarmiento said they are also targeting to give an orientation to more than 40,000 graduates of TESDA’s health-related courses regarding contact tracing.
Once they have graduated, they can apply to their respective local government. They will be given a daily allowance of ₱160, one-time ₱500 allowance each for personal protective equipment and data, and ₱100 for insurance.
Sarmiento said they are now finalizing trainers that were recommended by the DOH to be able to start the program next month.
Those interested can apply through the TESDA website or through their regional offices.
The Department of Interior and Local Government said the country needs additional 50,000 contact tracers starting September on top of currently about 85,000 to boost government’s efforts for COVID-19 response. The department said current number is not enough to meet World Health Organization’s recommendation to have one contact tracer for every 800 people, as well as contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong’s requirement of 1:37 patient to close contacts ratio in order to cut transmission of the virus.
Lawmakers have also approved the ₱5-billion allocation for contact tracing under the “Bayanihan 2. “
