THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority in the National Capital Region will start its Contact Tracing Level II Training Program on Monday, September 7.

The first batch will undergo training for 15 days. Each trainee will receive P2,400 from TESDA, as well as P500 for protective personal equipment and another P500 for mobile data since classes will be held online.

TESDA Secretary General Isidro Lapeña said that the training program was part of the government’s campaign to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.

“As the government continues to pursue aggressive testing, tracing, and treatment as among the strategies to fight Covid19, TESDA welcomes the opportunity to be of service and at the frontline of these efforts, along with the Department of Health and other partner agencies like the local government units and the Red Cross,” Lapeña said.

He stressed the importance of contact tracing in fighting the contagion.

“Your role as contact tracers is very crucial. Your speed and competence in contact tracing will be one of our effective instruments to prevent the spread of Covid19 in the country,” Lapaña told the trainees, most of which were caregiving graduates, during the launch of the program.

The first batch of trainees came from the cities of Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Taguig, and municipality of Pateros.

The trainees will learn how to develop competencies on conducting case investigation and contact identification, plan an investigation and interview, evaluate the results of their interviews, profile contacts and data recording. They will also be taught how to refer a case to a health facility or quarantine center, coordinate with health workers and how to monitor patients during transport.