The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Zambales deployed 70 rehired contact tracers (CTs) across the province on February 3, 2021 to support local efforts in tracking down confirmed COVID-19 cases, managing their close contacts, aiming to reduce the spread of infection to confirmed COVID-19 cases, among others.

The rehiring and deployment was followed by the subsequent approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the funds to be utilized for the rehiring of CTs in year 2021. The DILG field offices were directed to assess and recommend only 30% from the previously hired CTs due to budgetary constraints, which has highly depended on their noted performance.

The CTs paid courtesy visit to the Municipal Mayors, Vice Mayors, Municipal Administrators, Municipal Health Officers, and Department Heads of their designated municipalities as they begin their official duty on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Local Government Operations Officers facilitated the coordination and turnover of the rehired CTs along with the towns' current contact-tracing teams led by the Rural Health Units.

The rehired CTs are set to render their services for another six months.