SEN. Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the release of additional budget to compensate health care workers (HCWs) who contracted Covid-19 and ensure that those serving on the frontlines will have the appropriate benefits and financial support they will need in fulfilling their duty. "As health care workers continue their life-saving work, it is incumbent upon the government to show our gratitude by providing them the appropriate allowances and benefits. In line with this, Go reiterated his appeal for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 2421, a measure that he authored and co-sponsored, to provide a fixed monthly allowance for health care workers during the ongoing state of emergency due to the pandemic. The measure takes into consideration a previous bill that Go has filed and provides a Covidly-19 Risk Allowance in lieu of the special risk allowance and other financial compensation granted under Republic Act (RA) 11494, also known as the "Bayanihan 2." Specifically, it gives all HCWs deployed in "high risk areas" a monthly allowance of P9,000, while those in "medium risk areas" and "low risk areas" will be provided P6,000 and P3,000, respectively.

Source: Manila Times November 28, 2021 03:15 UTC