Families of 30 fallen health workers in COVID-19 battle get P1-M benefit

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This article’s title and text were revised to reflect the update of the Department of Health that as of 2 p.m. of June 6, a total of 30 healthcare workers have already received their P1-million compensation.]

MANILA, Philippines — After much delay, families of 30 healthcare workers who succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have finally received P1 million each in compensation, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

During the Laging Handa online press briefing, DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said families of the 29 from the 32 healthcare workers already got the cash benefit.

“Napirmahan na po natin ‘yung joint administrative order nung isang araw at kahapon po, dala-dala ‘yung mga cheke, napuntahan na po ni [Sec. Francisco Duque III] at ni [Usec. Roger Tong-an] ‘yung relatives ng ating mga kababayan, at naibigay na ho ang cheke sa 29 na heirs,” Vergeire said.

(We already signed the joint administrative order the other day and yesterday, Sec. Duque and USec. Tong-an brought the cheques to the 29 heirs.)

In a later text message to reporters, DOH said that as of 2 p.m. of June 6, a total of 30 families of affected healthcare workers have already received the indemnity.

As for the families of the two remaining healthcare workers, DOH said it was still awaiting the submission of needed documents before it gives out the benefit.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said that the 79 health workers who had severe symptoms of COVID-19 will get their P100,000 compensation “maybe in the coming days.”

Early this week, a Senate hearing revealed that 32 healthcare workers who died in the line of duty battling COVID-19 received no compensation, as stated under Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.”

Under the law, families of healthcare workers, who acquired COVID-19 in the performance of his or her duty, must receive compensation of P1 million if the healthcare worker died and P100,000 if the healthcare worker became severely ill.

Duque has blamed his subordinates for the delay in the release of the benefits, saying they were bungling on their job and had no “sense of urgency.”

Later, Duque said he’s taking responsibility for the problem.

KGA