Recto: 10,000 health workers in DOH program to keep jobs in 2020

MANILA, Philippines —Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday assured that over 10,000 health workers of the Human Resource for Health Deployment Program (HRHDP) of the Department of Health (DOH) will continue to have their jobs in 2020 amid projected budget cuts in the health agency.

“In all, about 10,921 health personnel under the DOH-HRHDP will keep their jobs. It would have been a plague — like 40 percent casualty rate, had the Senate not intervened,” Recto said in a statement.

Recto quoted the assurance also made by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, sponsor of the DOH budget, that none of the health workers of the program will lose their jobs after the Senate recommended an amendment to the agency’s budget for next year.

He said the end of the contracts of 7,107 nurses, 597 medical technologists, and 202 dentists has been averted.

“Under the original DOH budget, not one of them will be rehired next year,” he added. “With funding secured, no one will be excused from the program.”

Recto said the Senate was united in ensuring that health workers in the DOH program can keep their jobs.

Recto then thanked Senator Sonny Angara for including in the Senate committee report on the 2020 national budget Recto’s amendment to infuse P7 billion to the DOH program so that there would be “zero casualty” on the personnel.

“At hindi lang ako ang may ganoong paninindigan at panukala (It is not just me who has that stand). On both sides of the aisle, our commandment to the DOH is ‘Thou shall not fire,’” he said.

Edited by JE