BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez yesterday rallied 129 health care frontliners, being trained to be effective contact tracers, to convey the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic to the public.
“Be serious in the task of identifying pathways to contagion through systematic, efficient, accurate and fast contact tracing,” Benitez, who spoke yesterday at the opening of the two-day Metro 3rd Contract Tracing seminar held at the Don Alejandro Acuna Yap and Cultural Center in Victorias City, said.
The seminar aims to strengthen and equip the contact tracing participants to be efficient, in support to the government’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
The training is being undertaken with the help of retired Maj. Gen. Mel Feliciano, Inter Agency Task Force deputy chief implementer for Visayas, and his team of experts.
Benitez reiterated his call for full cooperation from Negrenses with contact tracers, as he acknowledged the efforts and support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PNP and local governments in the fight against the pandemic.
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade has organized two teams of contact tracers, composed of 20 Army personnel, to augment the 47 contract tracers of Bacolod City Police Office.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office also organized 346 Covid-19 contact tracers.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, stressed the importance of contact tracing efforts being an important factor in the fight against the spread of the pandemic.
The training is hosted by the Victorias City government, through Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, in tandem with Benitez and Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano, provincial government of Negros Occidental and the five local government units of the 3rd district.
The first batch of trainees is expected to share their acquired knowledge from the two-day seminar in their respective communities, Benitez said.
Other cities and towns in Negros Occidental are also expected to conduct similar contact tracing trainings to boost the drive in the fight against the pandemic.*
