THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority said that 50 scholars who have completed their training on contact tracing are ready to be deployed to communities.

The graduates who finished the Contact Tracing Level II training were assisted by the agency in their application to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. TESDA also endorsed the graduates to their respective local government units.

Some scholars were completing the requirements for employment while some were scheduled for an interview.

During the opening ceremony for the first batch of trainees held last month, TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña commended the scholars for choosing to serve the country.

“Thank you for your bravery. Napakahalaga ng inyong role bilang contact tracers. Ang inyong mahusay at mabilis na aksiyon ang magiging susi ng ating pamahalaan para mapigil ang pagdami ng covid cases,” Lapeña said.

He said the program will benefit the community and the local government units 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 coronavirus in their respective barangays,” Lapeña said.

The seven-day training for TESDA trainers is the pilot project of the agency to ensure that there will be sufficient number of trainers who can conduct more contact tracing training nationwide.

TESDA-National Capital Region Director Florencio Sunico Jr. reported that the first batch of 28 additional trainers from the six district offices of the agency have completed the Multiplier Training of Trainers on Contact Tracing Level II Program.

Another batch will soon start taking the training program.

Contact tracing training will also be held in Regions II, III and IV-A.

Developed by TESDA with the help of the Health Human Resources Development Bureau of the Department of Health and other health industry experts, Contact Tracing Level II aims to increase the workforce and capacity of the LGUs to conduct contact tracing of individuals who tested positive for Covid19.