STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE LIFTING OF DEPLOYMENT BAN ON HEALTH WORKERS

Matagal na nating ipinanawagan, kasama ng mga organisasyon ng mga Filipino nurse, na tanggalin na ang deployment ban sa health workers, at sa wakas ay napakinggan na. While we welcome this development, we will continue to push for better working conditions for our health workers.

Hindi makatarungan na may nasa 16,000 health workers sa ilalim ng emergency hiring program ng Department of Health (DOH) ang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nababayaran ng kanilang karampatang hazard pay at special risk allowance. Sa kabilang banda, naglagay ng cap kung saan 5,000 health workers lang ang pwedeng mangibang-bansa. Dapat siguraduhin munang natutupad ang mga ipinangako sa health workers bago maglagay ng ano mang limitasyon o restriksyon.

In order to strengthen our country's response against COVID-19 and encourage our health workers to work locally, the government must invest and allot its resources to provide a more competent salary and benefits package to ensure that their welfare is being taken cared of. Our health workers deserve better.