TESDA urges LGUs to avail of contact tracing training

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has urged anew local government units (LGUs) to avail of its free contact tracing training program (CTTP) in view of th surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

It can be recalled that at the onset of the pandemic last year, TESDA Sec. Isidro Lapeña immediately ordered the agency’s Qualifications and Standards Office to develop a CTTP.

He likewise directed the TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) nationwide to register the program and partner with barangay health centers, LGUs, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), or Department of Health (DOH) facilities in their areas.

With this, TESDA, in September last year, has started offering free contact tracing training program to support the country’s fight against the spread of Covid-19.

From September last year up to March this year, based on raw data gathered from the published reports of the Agency’s regional and provincial offices, some 332 TESDA scholars have completed their training on Contact Tracing Level II.

Earlier, Lapeña expressed his optimism that this initiative will benefit the community and the LGUs particularly in the barangay level.

“It is through this program that we can produce more graduates for the LGUs to utilize as contact tracers who will work to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in their respective barangays,” he said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that contact tracing has been the weakest point in the country’s pandemic response.

Contact tracing czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that the country needs a 1:37 patient to close contacts ratio in order to cut the transmission of the disease.

Meanwhile, the training on contact tracing, which was developed with the help of the Health Human Resources Development Bureau of the DOH and the health industry experts, runs for 15 days under blended learning modality.

Trainees for contact tracing must have completed at least 10 years basic education or holder of Alternative Learning System certificate of completion with Grade 10 equivalent and has basic communication skills.

Trainees will be given a training allowance amounting to P2,400 for the entire training duration, insurance coverage, and additional allowance to cover internet expenses and personal protective equipment. The graduates may apply in LGUs of their choice for possible employment after the training.