Legarda seeks special risk allowance for all health workers during health crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Loren Legarda is pressing for the provision of additional compensation for health care workers especially now the country is going through a serious health crisis.

The House deputy speaker filed House Bill No. 10621 or “Special Risk Allowance Bill” seeking additional benefits for health care workers in this time of the pandemic.

Legarda said the pandemic has taken its toll on the healthcare workers’ overall well-being, but their salaries and benefits are not enough to compensate for their sacrifices.

“Our healthcare workers are very essential in our fight not only against the COVID-19 pandemic but against all other health risks, too. Yet, their efforts have been undervalued,” she said in a statement.

The Special Risk Allowance for all Health Workers Act of 2021 aims to grant monthly SRA equivalent to a maximum of 25% of the monthly basic salary/pay of health workers. This comes with an exemption in income tax both public and private healthcare institutions.

The SRA must be granted to all health workers assigned in health care institutions such as public or private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, extended care facilities, or other institutions devoted to the care of the sick, infirmed, or aged person.

The bill also covers health employees occupying a regular, contractual or casual position on a full time or part-time basis.

“Our people’s health should come first, but at the same time, we also need to protect the welfare of our healthcare workers. This is the first step towards ensuring that our healthcare system is able to keep up with the challenges of this global pandemic and future health threats, as well,” said Legarda.

Quite a number of healthcare workers have staged protests calling for the immediate release of their delayed hazard pay, SRA, and meals and transportation allowance following the high number of recorded cases of COVID-19 among their ranks.

/MUF