Duterte wants to increase special risk allowance of medical volunteers

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he wants to increase the special risk allowance of medical volunteers at the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.

After he was informed that health workers and medical volunteers get an allowance known as the “special risk allowance” worth about P5,000, which still depends on their overall work, Duterte said he wants to “raise the amount” since it is “too low considering the danger.”

“I think the P5,000, masyadong maliit ‘yun, considering the danger. You take into account the possibility that they themselves will get COVID-19. I will increase. ‘Di ko pa masabi magkano,” he said in a taped public address aired Thursday night.

(I think the amount is too low, considering the danger. You take into account the possibility that they themselves will get COVID-19. I will increase. I cannot say how much the increase will be.)

“To those who are entertaining the idea of getting into the roll of volunteers, I will raise the amount. Ano ba naman ‘yang pera, ubusin na natin itong pera ng gobyernong ito para sa inyo. I don’t think we’ll run out of money,” he added.

(What about the money? Let’s spend it all for you. I don’t think we’ll run out of money.)

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III explained that the special risk allowance of medical volunteers is on top of the hazard duty pay and salaries given to them, but agreed that it needs to be increased.

KGA