FILE PHOTO: Health workers spray disinfectant as they make their way through Barangay 628 Zone 63 in Santa Mesa district, Manila, which has been placed on lockdown for four days because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the village in March. Coronavirus infections are also rising outside Metro Manila, the independent research group OCTA reported on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has distributed P16.01 billion worth of benefits to health workers, Secretary Francisco Duque III reported early Wednesday.
“Ang healthcare worker benefits as of October 19, P16 billion na ang ating naipamahaging benepisyo pangkalahatan para sa atin pong mga healthcare workers at kasama rito ang pinakabagong ulat ng ating pamamahagi ng special risk allowance at COVID-19 sickness and death compensation,” Duque said during the Talk to the People.
(Our healthcare worker benefits as of October 19, P16 billion was distributed to our healthcare workers including the newly recorded disbursement of special risk allowance and COVID-19 sickness and death compensation.)
“At kumpara sa aming huling talaan nung October 11, tumaas nang bahagya ang pondong naibaba para sa special risk allowance ng healthcare workers na kabilang sa Batches 3 and 4,” he added.
(Compared to our last data on October 11, the fund distributed as a special risk allowance for healthcare workers included in Batches 3 and 4 slightly increased.)
According to Duque, P735 million was distributed to 55,000 health workers.
Meanwhile, P613 million were provided to health workers who had mild, moderate, and severe to critical COVID-19 cases. This includes the benefits for health workers who succumbed to the virus.
Duque said that the DOH is asking for more funds to provide health workers with benefits.
“Ang amin pong tanggapan ay patuloy na humihiling ng karagdagang pondo para sa atin pong mga healthcare workers na hindi nakatatanggap na kanilang benepisyo, at nais din namin na ipaalam na kami po ay magpapatuloy sa pagtulong sa atin pong mga namamayaning healthcare workers na araw-araw lumalaban para po sa ating mga kababayan,” Duque said.
(Our office is continuously asking for additional funds for our healthcare workers who have yet to receive their benefits, and we would also like to inform you that our assistance will continue for our healthcare workers who brave the virus for Filipinos.)
RELATED STORIES
Health care workers’ benefits: ‘Singular’ plan brings multiple issues
104 health workers die of COVID-19 — DOH data