DILG probes alleged cut in hazard pay of nurse who died of COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed the Cainta, Rizal government to conduct an investigation into the reported reduction of hazard pay of a nurse at the Cainta Municipal Hospital, who recently died of COVID-19.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said they will ask the local government to explain the reduced hazard pay of the nurse (name withheld to maintain her privacy) as the agency starts an investigation into the allegations.

“Cainta is a first-class municipality so I see no reason why it could not afford to pay the P500/day hazard pay granted to all health workers during this global pandemic,” Malaya said in a statement on Thursday.

Malaya quoted a viral Facebook post of the health care worker’s daughter, who said they expected to receive P30,000 from the local government but they got only P7,000.

The FB post further claimed that the nurse’s hazard pay was reduced from P500 to P64.18 per day. She added that the hospital failed to properly explain the deductions.

Aside from the hazard pay issue, Malaya said the Cainta goverrnment must also respond to allegations that it supposedly deprived the medical worker of a swab test when she was exposed to a COVID-19 patient.

Nonetheless, DILG and the Department of Health will coordinate to ensure that the family will receive the P1 million compensation for health workers who died in the line of duty as mandated under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

INQUIRER.net sought reaction from the Cainta government but has yet to receive a reply, as of posting.

EDV