DOH-3 assures release of medical workers' SRAs
CLARK FREEPORT--The Metro Pacific-led NLEX Corporation recently donated close to 1,000 boxes of food items and other essentials to jeepney drivers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, communities hit by the recent flooding, and vaccinators in some local government units.
The donations were part of NLEX’s commitment to support its stakeholders in both transport and community sectors.
With stricter safety protocols in the National Capital Region and other areas in Luzon, jeepney drivers are once again affected in terms of allowed passenger capacity and number of trips.
Host communities also need help as inclement weather conditions in their areas hurt their livelihood.
“We recognize the vital role of our jeepney drivers in providing mobility to our medical frontliners and individuals working amid the pandemic. We likewise acknowledge the efforts of our vaccinators who assist in the country’s vaccination program against the dreaded virus. They all need our assistance including the members of our host communities who have been struck by disasters," NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi Bautista said.
"It is our commitment in NLEX to continue to support our stakeholders as we all strive to recover from the adverse effects of this crisis,” Bautista added.
Around 450 boxes of rice, grocery items, and other essential items such as alcohol and face masks were given to jeepney drivers with routes plying the NLEX open and closed systems in Caloocan City, Bulacan, and Pampanga.
These include those traversing MeycauayanMonumento, Marilao-Monumento, Sta. MariaMonumento, Malolos, San Fernando, Dau, and Angeles.
Over 150 boxes of food items were also given to 35 communities, benefiting around 1,000 families affected by flooding in Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Bataan.
Meanwhile, almost 300 boxes of snacks for vaccinators were also distributed to 13 LGUs in Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.
“We hope that through these initiatives, we were able to address their immediate needs and help ease their burdens,” Bautista said.
Jun Apuyan of Pasang Masda expressed gratitude for the assistance.
Earlier this year, the tollway company also joined the cause of community pantries and distributed food donations in barangays covered by its expressway network.
NLEX Corp. and the other units of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation have always been at the forefront of reaching out and giving back to communities through various corporate social responsibility programs.
CI TY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Department of Health Region III (DOH-3) has assured healthcare workers of the release of their Covid-19 benefits following threats of protest actions from medical frontliners.
On Sunday, August 29, DOH-3 said the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) for healthcare workers who have met the guidelines and conditions for the grant filed from December 2020 to June 2021 are already in process.
It also clarified that the SRA is granted to public and private healthcare workers who have been highly exposed or have direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
"While there are already healthcare workers who got hold of their SRA, DOH-3 recognizes their concern on the amount they received," the department's statement r ead.
According to Administrative Order (AO) No. 36 dated November 16, 2020, public and private healthcare workers who were highly exposed are entitled to receive COVID19 SRA not exceeding P5,000 per month.
"However, the department would like to emphasize that the SRA grant is prorated based on the number of days that the healthcare workers physically report for work in a month, as certified by the head of hospital, laboratory, or medical and quarantine facility, as stipulated in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Health (DOH) Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2020, dated November 25, 2020," it added.
DOH also said that it released the SRA in accordance with the information submitted by the head of the hospitals, local government units, and private health facilities.
Recognizing the "heroic and invaluable contributions of healthcare workers who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH said it will continue to process and provide the SRA for healthcare worker s.
It also assured healthcare workers that the department is "more than willing to hold a dialogue with healthcare workers to listen to their concerns on the provision of the said benefit."