MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva is pushing for hazard pay for all essential personnel from the public and private sector due to the risks they face.
Villanueva cited the plight of front-liners such as sanitation workers, street sweepers and garbage collectors who continued to render service despite the raging pandemic.
He filed Senate Bill No. 1453, which seeks to provide hazard pay for essential workers in critical industries.
To be covered are workers in medical and allied health services, banks, morgues, groceries and public markets, pharmacies, restaurants, logistics, food and medical manufacturing, telecommunications, mass media; personnel in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, gasoline stations, oil companies, water distribution, sanitation, capital markets, hotels, public transport, civil aviation and other essential industries.
—Julie M. Aurelio