Go: Address concerns of health care workers
AMID the rapidly rising number of new Covid-19 cases potentially caused by the more transmissible Omicron variant, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go urged concerned authorities to ensure that the needs on the job of health care workers (HCWs) are adequately and immediately addressed.
“Kaya panawagan ko sa mga otoridad, bilisan ang hiring at deployment ng ating mga medical personnel, lalo na sa mga critical areas na kung saan marami sa mga health care workers ang tinamaan din ng Covid-19. Bilisan din ang pagproseso ng dapat matanggap nilang halaga na naaayon sa ating guidelines (I am calling on the authorities to speed up the hiring and deployment of our medical personnel, especially in critical areas wherein many of our health care workers were inflicted with Covid-19. The processing of the cash receivables that they are supposed to receive in accordance with our guidelines should also be hastened),” Go said.
He also urged concerned agencies to speed up the release of the mandated compensation and allowances for the HCWs.
Some health care workers have expressed concern over the shortened mandatory quarantine period for health care workers infected with Covid-19, arguing that the latest guidelines issued by health authorities may put the HCWs at further risk.
Go has been steadfast in fighting for the interests and welfare of healthcare workers whom he considers as modern-day heroes who put their lives at the frontline in the country’s fight against an unseen enemy.
“Bilang chairman ng Senate health committee, palagi kong isinaaalang-alang ang kapakanan ng ating mga health care workers. Sila ay mga tunay na bayani sa ating pakikipagbakbakan sa kalabang hindi naman nakikita. Kailanman, hinding-hindi matutumbasan ng anumang halaga ng pera ang kanilang sakripisyo at panganib sa kanilang buhay (As chairman of the Senate health committee, I always prioritize the welfare of our health care workers. They are the true heroes in our fight against the unseen enemy. Never can we compensate with any amount of money the sacrifice and the danger they face in their lives),” he said.
Go authored and co-sponsored
Senate Bill 2421 which seeks to provide health workers with a fixed monthly Covid-19 risk allowance for the duration of the current state of emergency in lieu of the special risk allowance and other financial compensations granted under Bayanihan 2.
Earlier, he sought the grant of special risk allowance and other compensation and financial benefits for medical frontliners.
The senator had castigated health officials before regarding delays in the release of various allowances due the HCWs, including compensation for those who died after contracting Covid-19.
Late last year, he fought for an increase in the budget for the Health department under the General Appropriations Act of 2022, cognizant of the dire need to equip the department with necessary resources to continue combating the pandemic.
Go said he believes that the country has improved in managing the pandemic, compared to 2020 when the previously unknown disease first hit the Philippines.
“But just like the rest of the world, we continue to adapt and respond to these challenges based on good science through the help of experts from various fields, through the political will as shown by our leader President Rodrigo Duterte, and most importantly, with the discipline and cooperation of our people,” he added.
Go said that as of January 9, 2022, the Philippines has acquired 213.49 million doses of antiCovid-19 vaccines.
“Even with our vaccine rollout, we should not be complacent. May mga hindi pa rin bakunado, marami pa ring naghihirap, at maraming sektor rin ang kailangan ng tulong. Kaya patuloy na sinisikap ng gobyerno na tugunan lahat ng ito. Kasama na diyan ang pangangalaga sa kalagayan ng mga frontliners lalo na mga doctor, nurses at iba pang health care workers (There are still unvaccinated individuals, many people are in difficult situations, and several sectors need help. The government is doing its best to address all of these, including the need to take care of the condition of the frontliners especially the doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers),” Go said.