DOH: Over P30 M released to COVID-stricken medical frontliners, relatives

Some of Manila’s frontliners in the fight against COVID-19. (Photo from the Manila Public Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has so far released P31 million in compensation to the families of healthcare workers who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the line of duty.

In an online press forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the DOH has issued checks worth P1 million each to the families of 31 medical frontliners who died of COVID-19.

The DOH is still evaluating documents for the release of the cash assistance to 22 more families.

“Meron tayong ine-evaluate na 22,” she said.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the DOH has already released 36 P100,000-checks to healthcare workers who contracted COVID-19 with severe symptoms.

“We were already able to give checks for severe and critical [cases] as soon as we verify kung talagang yung status nila. For the severe and critical cases, we were already able to release 36 checks amounting to P100,000,” she said.

“Meron pa tayong additional na 53 na ine-evaluate pa rin ang kanilang mga dokumento sa ngayon just to verify their outcomes,” she added.

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

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