Duterte agrees to give financial aid to all virus-hit health workers

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the grant of cash assistance to all health care workers in the country who have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

During a meeting in Malacañang on Sunday night, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19, proposed a cash assistance of P10,000 each for all coronavirus-hit medical frontliners.

“I agree with you. Even 15 [thousand pesos],” Duterte told Galvez.

Under the now-expired Bayanihan to Heal As Once Act, only health workers who would become severely ill in the line of duty would get compensation of P100,000 while the family of those who died of COVID-19 in the line of duty would get P1 million.

A total of 5,008 health care workers nationwide have contracted COVID-19 as of Saturday, Aug. 1. Of the total, 4,576 have recovered and 38  have died.

During the meeting, Duterte also “strongly recommended” the inclusion of a stipend and additional benefits for health care workers in the proposed We Recover as One Law, or Bayanihan 2.

“Give us time. We will make the report. I hope it will be included in the second Bayanihan [Law]… If it’s included, I will give it to you immediately,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.

On Sunday, the Department of Health reported 5,032 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country’s total caseload to 103,185. It is considered the highest single-day jump on record in the country.

The country’s death toll climbed to 2,059 while the recoveries reached 65,557.

/atm