JV Ejercito: Increasing wages, benefits will keep health care workers in PH

Senator JV Ejercito speaks at a campaign sortie in General Trias, Cavite. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said increasing the salaries and benefits of Filipino healthcare workers will encourage them to stay in the country.

“Kahit na mas mababa sahod dito, mabigay lang natin yung onting benepisyo, prebilehiyo. Itaas natin nang onti, kahit di kasing taas nung sa mga First World Countries,” Ejercito said.

“I think they would rather stay here than live far away from their families. Di kasi natin na-prioritize natin,” he added.

The former senator said the full implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law, which he principally sponsored, will address the present grievances of healthcare workers by providing them just compensation.

“The Universal Healthcare Act also guarantees na kahit papaano, itaas natin yung salary grade nila. Di natin ‘yon kayang tapatan. Pero itaas man lang natin to just levels, for their compensation,” Ejercito said.

While the country cannot compete with salaries being offered abroad, Ejercito said providing healthcare workers with personal protective equipment (PPEs) and allowances can make up for the country’s inability to raise salaries exponentially.

“Yung kanilang benefits, allowances, small things. Halimbawa, yung mga PPEs, safety equipment na dapat binibigay ng gobyerno. Yung mga food allowances na, during this pandemic, sad to say, hindi pa natin naibigay,” he said.

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