BAGUIO City Mayor Benjie Magalong will remain as the government’s tracing czar, according to Malacanang.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated this while stating that Magalong remains neck-deep in the training of mayors of various local government units on how to effectively track down close contacts of persons who have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.
“Si Mayor Magalong pa rin po, at ang alam ko po ay patuloy ang kaniyang ginagawang training sa iba’t ibang mga LGUs para sa epektibong contact tracing system,” Roque said.
He also underscored the crucial role that Magalong has been playing in the wake of a more contagious mutated COVID-19 strain referred to as the Delta variant even as Roque hinted at government efforts to hire more contact tracers, whose funds would be covered under the 2nd and 3rd Bayanihan law allocation.
“Naghahanda po tayo ng mga contact tracers na additional din ‘no bukod doon sa mayroon na tayo. At iyan nga po siguro ay kabahagi ng pag-uusapan ukol po sa Bayanihan II at Bayanihan III,” the Palace mouthpiece added.
Looking back, Magalong tendered his resignation as tracing czar following a viral video that saw him in attendance at a social gathering in Baguio City sometime in January this year.