MANILA, Philippines—The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is set to release P12.9 million in life insurance benefits to the families and beneficiaries of the eight government health workers who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Our insurance officers are already coordinating with the bereaved families. Once the papers are duly processed, we will release the amounts without delay,” President and General Manager of the state pension fund Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said in a release on Thursday.
The GSIS explains that being members of the state pension fund, all government health workers who are employed in the Department of Health (DOH), DOH-attached institutions, local government unit health centers, and other public health institutions are automatically covered by its life insurance policy. This policy entitles the member’s family or beneficiary to receive a lump sum payment equivalent to 150% of the annual salary of the deceased member.
“And as promised, we will be granting an additional P500,000 under our Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners (BFF) on top of their regular insurance benefits in recognition of their heroism and selfless dedication to public service,” Macasaet added.
The resolution establishing the BFF to provide the cash grant on top of the insurance was approved by the GSIS Board of Trustees on April 14.
Macasaet withheld the names of the eight deceased government health workers but shared that five of them worked at the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital, National Children’s Hospital, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, while three worked in the local health centers of Manila, Parañaque and Pampanga.
“It is devastating to lose a loved one but we do hope that this will help assuage the grief felt by the families of those left behind by these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” the GSIS president stressed.
The DOH reported that as of Wednesday, a total of 1,552 health workers in the country have contracted the novel coronavirus, of which 232 have already recovered while 32 have died.