Party list group opposes health workers’ consolidated COVID-19 allowance

An illustration of faceless frontliners in the medical field.

MANILA, Philippines — A party-list group advocating public health opposed on Saturday the consolidated COVID-19 allowance for frontline health workers, saying it effectively reduced the allowances of medical front-liners.

In a statement, Act As One Party-list noted that last year, health workers were given a special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay (AHDP) amounting to a maximum of P5,000 and P3,000, respectively, per month, for a total of P8,000.

But last month, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that it will be consolidating these into one program called the One COVID-19 Allowance (OCA), which will compensate health workers with P9,000, P6,000 and P3,000 per month for high, moderate and low risk, respectively.

ACT As One Party-list was initially organized as a rapid response group composed of concerned citizens that provided aid to hospitals, medical institutions and medical front-liners at the height of the pandemic in 2020.

The group opposed the move of the DOH, stressing that the agency “effectively reduced the COVID allowances of medical front-liners because the P8,000 they received as SRA and AHDP across-the-board last year will now amount to only P6,000 and P3,000 to some HCWs.”

ACT as One first nominee Atty. Reynold Munsayac pointed out that even if a front-liner qualifies for the highest tier in the OCA, which is P9,000 per month for 22 days of work, it amounts only to less than P410 a day. If working for 26 days a month, then it goes down to P346 a day, he said.

“This amount is a pittance for our ‘heroes’ who risk their lives and those of their loved ones. It’s not a joke to be exposed to COVID-19 everyday. Thus, they deserve our thanks and continuing support,” said Munsayac.

Instead of the OCA, the party-list group proposed to triple the COVID-19 duty allowances of the country’s healthcare workers. It assured that once elected to Congress, the group will pursue legislation that will ensure better COVID duty pay for medical frontliners.

“Our medical frontliners face tremendous risks while on COVID duty. Thus, we should exert every effort to give them what is just and fair,” Munsayac said.

“I believe being a frontliner and taking care of COVID-19 patients is one of the most dangerous occupations during a pandemic. Our medical frontliners put their lives on the line everyday. They deserve better pay,” he added.

In January, the DOH also defended its policy that determines the allowance of healthcare workers based on their risk level classification amid accusations that it was discriminatory and divisive.

/MUF