By Chito Chavez
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DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya yesterday sought the hiring of healthy and younger barangay “tanods’’ (watchmen) for the strict enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine, which was extended anew to May 15 in Metro Manila and several other areas.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaya stressed it may be wise to assign the senior citizen tanods who are at higher risk to acquire the virus to less taxing duties.
He admitted requesting DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to issue an advisory that will prohibit senior citizen tanods from manning the checkpoints.
Malaya debunked the excuse of some barangays that there is a scarcity of young applicants.
“Meron ‘yan. Daming taong puwedeng maging tanod sa mga barangay. Bakit ‘yung senior citizens pa?’’ Malaya said.
Malaya said that part of his suggestion is to provide adequate respite for barangay tanods since they cannot be considered regular employees.
He also asked barangay chairmen to hire physically and mentally fit personnel, specifically tanods.
“Hiring is the call of the barangay chairman. Of course pag drug user disqualified na ‘yan,’’ he added.
