Swift distribution of health care workers’ benefits sought

Go successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 11712 which provides benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during the state of public health emergency.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reminded the government anew to provide the benefits and allowances of health care workers in the country as soon as possible in recognition of the sacrifices of medical frontliners especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The senator — who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography — stressed that he continues to advocate for the welfare and interest of the country’s healthcare workers during his visit to Malasakit Center at Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Go also expressed gratitude to healthcare and non-healthcare workers for the immeasurable services they have rendered, citing how they have saved and protected a great number of Filipinos throughout the pandemic.

He then reassured that the government continues to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and ensure that all healthcare workers are well-supported during these unprecedented times.

To recall, Go successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11712 which provides benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during the state of public health emergency.

Public and private healthcare workers covered by the law are entitled to health emergency allowance for every month of service during a state of public health emergency based on the risk categorization.

The allowance will be given for every month served depending on the risk exposure of the healthcare workers. Those deployed in “low risk areas” shall be given P3,000 per month; those deployed in “medium risk areas” shall be given P6,000 per month; and those deployed in “high risk areas” shall be given P9,000 per month.

The healthcare workers will also be receiving separate compensation if they contract Covid-19 while on duty. For those with mild to moderate symptoms, they will receive P15,000 while individuals with severe symptoms or under a critical state will receive P100,000.

Meanwhile, for those who unfortunately succumb to the virus, the government will be giving P1,000,000 to the families they left behind.

The benefits under this Act shall have retroactive application from 1 July 2021 and shall remain in full force and effect during the state of national public health emergency as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Go also authored and co-sponsored RA 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law 5, in 2019 which gives civilian government employees, including nurses, salary increases broken down in tranches.

During the visit, Go also witnessed the turnover of a check amounting to P100 million from the Office of the President to DRMC. The said funds will be used to improve the delivery of services of the hospital’s Malasakit Center.

As part of the senator’s efforts to enhance the capability of DRMC, he principally sponsored a measure to increase the bed capacity of the hospital from 600 to 1,000 beds. House Bill 10013 has passed the third reading and is awaiting Duterte’s signature.