Marcos: P59.8B paid to COVID-19 health workers

In this June 2020 photo, health workers are on standby to help COVID-19 patients at a quarantine facility set up at the Philippine Arena complex in Bocaue, Bulacan. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the government had paid P59.8 billion or 78.9 percent of the allowances that emergency health workers who served at the height of the pandemic were entitled to under the law.

“In fulfillment of our promise, our administration has given out P59.8 billion or 78.92 percent of COVID health emergency allowance to our frontline heroes,” he said in a social media post.

READ: Health workers seek government action on unpaid COVID-19 benefits

Marcos made the announcement as the country marked National Health Workers’ Day on May 8 as mandated by Republic Act No. 10069.

“On this National Health Workers’ Day, we give utmost recognition to the sacrifices of our front-liners who have been wholeheartedly serving the country and showing the world the competence and compassion of Filipinos,” he said.

In December, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa estimated that it would take until 2026 for the government to pay in full the emergency allowances totaling P62.9 billion to all eligible health workers. —MELVIN GASCON