‘Furious’ Duterte sets June 9 deadline for release of compensation for virus-hit health workers

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has given concerned government agencies until Tuesday, June 9, to release the compensation intended for healthcare workers who died or became severely ill from COVID-19.

“Hanggang Martes lang po ang binigay ng Presidente para sa mga kinuukulan na ibigay ang compensation sa mga health workers na nagkasakit ng COVID-19 in the line of duty at sa mga pamilyang naiwan ng mga namatay,” presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing Thursday.

(The President is giving only until Tuesday for those in charge of giving the compensation for health workers who got sick with COVID-19 in the line of duty and to the families of the health workers who died.)

Under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, health workers who become severely ill in the line of duty are to get compensation of P100,000 while the family of those who died of COVID-19 in the line of duty should get P1 million.

However, it was bared during a Senate hearing Tuesday night that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the provision of compensation to medical workers have yet to be finalized, leaving at least 32 healthcare workers uncompensated.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said the Department of Health, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will come up with a Joint Administrative Order this week to implement the provision on health workers’ compensation.

Roque warned government agencies to follow the President’s deadline as he was “furious and frustrated” over the delay in the release of the benefits.

“Binabalaan ko po ang mga awtoridad, sumunod po tayo dahil ngayon ko lang po nakita ganyan kainit ang ulo ng Presidente,” Roque warned.

(I am warning the authorities, obey the directive because the President is really furious.)

To date, a total of 2,675 health workers nationwide have contracted respiratory disease. Of the number, 32 have died.