Duterte grants special risk allowance to frontline public health workers

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved an order granting a special risk allowance (SRA) to public health workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Duterte, through Administrative Order (AO) No.28, said public health workers who rendered work during the period of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) are entitled to an allowance of up to 25 percent of their monthly basic pay.

“National government agencies (NGAs), government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and LGUs are authorized to grant a one-time COVID-19 SRA, equivalent to a maximum of 25 % of monthly basic salary/pay, to Public Health Workers (PHWs) who have great exposure to health risks and physical hardships in the line of duty, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Duterte said in his AO signed Monday.

The public health workers include medical, allied medical and other necessary personnel assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities “directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring.”

Civilian employees occupying regular, contractual, casual or part-time positions; workers engaged through contract of service (COS) or job order (JO); and barangay health workers assigned in hospitals are also covered in the AO.

“The grant of the COVID-19 SRA shall be pro-rated based on the number of days that PHWs physically report for work during the period of the ECQ in their respective places of assignment, reckoned not earlier than 17 March 2020,” the order stated.

The President earlier approved granting hazard pay to government workers who report for work while the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon is in place.

The month-long quarantine, which is in effect until midnight of April 13, aims to limit the movement of people while the government attempts to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The decision of either lifting or extending the strict quarantine measure is still being discussed, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease earlier said.