Recognizing the heroism of HCWs, Bong Go pushes for bill providing for more inclusive allowances and benefits during COVID-19 pandemic

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go pushed for the passage of a measure which seeks to provide continuing and more inclusive allowances and benefits to healthcare workers during the existence of the state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a speech during a hearing jointly conducted by Senate Committees on Finance, Ways and Means, and Health, Go underscored the importance of the 2022 budget in overcoming the current health crisis.

"Foremost in this fight, we must ensure the well-being of our healthcare workers. As such, I want to highlight the need to include in the 2022 budget the allowances for our healthcare workers. Nakataya po ang buhay nila dito. Bawat araw po ay nasa panganib ang kanilang buhay," said Go, also chair of the Health Committee.

He noted that some hospitals are nearing or already at full capacity level, burdening many healthcare workers. This, according to Go, prompted President Rodrigo Duterte's recent directive to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to deploy members of their medical corps to reinforce the hospitals in Metro Manila.

"Nito ngang nakaraan, umabot na sa full or critical capacity ang ilan sa mga ospital dito sa Metro Manila, kagaya ng St. Luke's Medical Center, Medical City, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, UERM Medical Center at Philippine Heart Center, dahil sa dami na po ng nagpapagamot at dahil nahahawa at nagkakasakit na ang karamihan sa kanilang mga healthcare workers," noted the senator who is also one of the vice chairs of the Finance Committee.

"This is why President (Rodrigo) Duterte asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to deploy members of their medical corps to reinforce hospitals," he added.

In line with this, the Senator pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2398 which provides benefits and allowances to all healthcare workers who are engaged in health and health-related work in health facilities during the state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sa totoo lang po, hindi naman mababayaran ng kahit anuman po ang buhay, ngunit mahalaga na bilang pagkilala na rin po sa sakripisyo nila para sa ating bayan, bigyan natin sila ng dapat nilang matanggap," said Go, referring to healthcare workers.

This is in line with his earlier call to expand the provision of the Special Risk Allowance to all healthcare workers serving in the hospitals. Go said that the bill is more inclusive in terms of eligible healthcare workers covered by the allowances and benefits.

"Lahat naman po ng healthcare workers na naka-duty ay maituturing na exposed sa banta ng COVID-19. Hindi po nakikita ang kalaban na ito kung kaya't mahirap paghiwalayin kung sino ang exposed at sino po ang hindi," said Go.

"Sabi ko nga, pagdating mo sa loob ng ospital, hindi mo naman masasabi kung hindi ka exposed. Pag nasa loob ka na, prone at maituturing na exposed ka na rin. Hindi mo masasabi na walang virus 'yung dinaanan mo kasi hindi nga natin nakikita ang COVID-19," he added.

Under the bill, a fixed monthly COVID-19 special risk allowance for every month that healthcare workers served during the state of national emergency will be provided to them. The allowance will be in addition to the hazard pay granted under the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers".

The measure also provides Active Hazard Duty Pay for public health workers according to Go. This means that in the event of COVID-19 exposure or any work-related illness or disease, the PhilHealth will continue to cover all of their medical expenses. Public and private healthcare personnel who contract COVID-19 in the course of their work will also be compensated.

To provide enough legal basis for the continued provision of allowances this year, the Senator said that included in the bill is the retroactive application of allowances beginning July 1, 2021. All allowances will also be tax free.

Meanwhile, Go noted that for the first part of the year, Duterte has directed the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management to expedite the provision of the mandated allowances, including the SRA.

"Recently, the President approved the release of P407 million to cover the SRA of additional eligible healthcare workers. With this, the government will be able to cover the SRA of a total of 117,926 more healthcare workers since the President's pronouncement," said Go.

"Hindi pa po natatapos ang pandemya kaya dapat tuluy-tuloy lang ang pagbibigay natin sa kanila ng mga benepisyo," he added.

Go then requested the Department of Health to be more flexible and offer healthcare workers with the benefits that they are entitled to if their budget allows it.

"Nanawagan na ako noong nakaraan sa DOH na maging flexible tayo kung kakayanin po ng pondo. Bigyan na ang lahat ng qualified ng fixed na amount ng SRA kaysa bilangin pa natin ang kanilang pag-duty bawat araw," said Go.

"Nagkakaroon kasi ng mga reklamo sa computation at minsan hindi nagiging transparent ang computation. Ako mismo, madaming lumalapit. Para maiwasan ito, mas mabuti kung fixed amount na kada buwan ang allowance," he added.

As healthcare workers continue their lifesaving work, Go said it is incumbent upon the government to show gratitude by providing them benefits that will improve their financial situation. He said that they should not be made to indefinitely bear the pressure of fighting a deadly virus without adequate compensation.

"Kailanman ay hindi sila pababayaan ng gobyerno. Ang ating mga medical frontliners ay ang mga sundalo sa gyerang ito. Sila ang tinuturing nating bayani sa laban na ito," Go assured.

"Pakiusap ko lang po sa mga frontliners, huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Tulungan ninyo po ang ating mga kababayan, kayo po ang nakakaalam sa gyerang ito," he added.

Go then thanked all healthcare workers for their sacrifices and continuing services to the country during the pandemic.

"Rest assured na handa kami ni Pangulong Duterte na makinig at magserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Salamat po muli sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahong ito," ended Go.