Health workers protest unreleased allowance, bonus since 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Health workers from the Philippine Orthopedic Center and the National Children’s Hospital staged a demonstration on Tuesday to protest their unpaid health emergency allowance and performance-based bonus.

According to Ricardo Antonio, president of the National Orthopedic Hospital Workers Union — Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), their health emergency allowance and performance-based bonus have been unreleased since 2021.

“The pandemic may have ended, but we still haven’t received in full our health emergency allowance. Some of our fellow health workers in private and LGU hospitals and facilities did not receive any cents of this allowance,” Antonio said.

The health workers at the protest also demanded a salary increase.

“The majority of health workers and other government employees earn less than the estimated family living wage of P1,100.00 per day or P33,000.00 per month. Hence, we firmly demand for a P33,000.00 entry salary for salary grade 1 health workers and other government employees,” Antonio added.

The AHW also expressed opposition to Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa’s appointment as the secretary of the Department of Health.

On Tuesday, a Commission on Appointments panel recommended the confirmation of Herbosa as the health secretary.

According to the AHW, Herbosa has shown “disregard” for health workers during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The AHW’s opposition to Secretary Herbosa’s appointment is based on several claims that they believe undermine the interests and welfare of health workers and the general public. Herbosa has shown a disregard for the well-being of health workers, which is particularly concerning during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.

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