Health workers in Dingras town, Ilocos Norte province conduct coronavirus tests for residents amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. PHOTO FROM DINGRAS LGU
MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is pushing for the granting of special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay to all health workers serving during public health emergencies.
Under House Bill No. 9640, the national government shall ensure the provision of P15,000 special risk allowance and P5,000 active hazard duty pay for all health workers. The pay shall be given on a monthly basis and is in addition to the existing benefits that healthcare workers are receiving.
The bill covers all health workers in public and private institutions, and in other health facilities, regardless of employment status, including contractual employees in the form of job order, contract-of-service, and human resources of health and other areas of assignment.
“Regrettably, the current special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay received by the health workers are insufficient and limited,” the Makabayan lawmakers said.
The Makabayan lawmakers said that currently, under Administrative Order Nos. 35 and 36 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, public and private health workers are only entitled to special risk allowance not exceeding P5,000 while frontline human resources for health are entitled to active hazard duty pay not exceeding P3,000.
Moreover, the lawmakers pointed out that under the Department of Health Memorandum No. 2021-0221, only public health workers catering to COVID-19 patients or providing COVID-19 healthcare response during the state of national emergency, medical and allied professionals, and administrative and support personnel are entitled to hazard pay, subsistence, and laundry allowance.
“These amounts are far cry from the health worker’s demand,” the lawmakers said.
The Makabayan bloc includes Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat; ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro; Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas; and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.