Villanueva pushes for bill granting additional benefits to healthcare workers

Senator Joel Villanueva pushed the passage of a bill that would institutionalize additional benefits for health workers, saying action should speak louder than words in giving honor to those who put their lives on the line in the battle against COVID-19.

"We can shower our health care workers with words of admiration, praises and all kinds of love languages," said Villanueva in his sponsorship speech Wednesday night. "I am sure that they will appreciate it. But action speaks louder than words."

"From the very beginning when we have yet to know the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we thought the lockdown would end after two weeks, our health care workers answered the call of duty and continue to do so," continued Villanueva.

"Sa puntong ito, tapatan natin ng mga konkretong aksyon at benepisyo ang sakripisyo ng ating mga health care worker na binibigay ang sarili nila nang buong-buo para labanan ang COVID-19," he said.

Citing data from the Department of Health, Villanueva said the Philippines currently has 25,411 medical and non-medical frontline workers who have contracted COVID-19. At least 366 of these are active cases, he said.

Aside from medical frontliners, non-medical health workers are also exposed to the risks of COVID-19 daily, he added. These are barangay health workers, administration staff, utility, social workers, dietary staff, security guards, drivers and hospital employees, Villanueva said.

"Every day, they fear for their lives, for the lives of their families," he said.

The ordeal that healthcare workers are going through is compounded by the resignation and early retirement of many of them "because they are exhausted, overworked and tired."

"We can prevent further resignation of healthcare workers by ensuring that they receive proper benefits, and - if I may emphasize this important point, that they receive these benefits expeditiously, without any unnecessary delay," Villanueva said.

By making additional benefits a permanent part of the compensation package for health care workers, the government would show that it was not merely paying lip service to these pandemic heroes, he said.

These benefits include COVID risk allowance, compensation for those who get COVID, regular testing and full PhilHealth coverage, according to Villanueva. Also important, he said, was providing "definite timelines as to when these should be distributed."

"We are giving a more appropriate and dignified salute to our pandemic heroes," Villanueva said.

Dagdag benepisyo para sa mga healthcare workers, isinusulong ni Villanueva

Isinusulong ni Senator Joel Villanueva ang pagpasa ng panukalang karagdagang benepisyo para sa mga healthcare workers, na inilarawan niya bilang malinaw na aksyon sa pagbibigay-pugay sa kanilang mga sakripsyo sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kayang-kaya po natin papurihan sa salita ang lahat ng ating mga healthcare workers. Sigurado pong malulugod sila. Ngunit mas mabigat ang halaga ng pag-aksyon kaysa pagbigkas ng mga salita," ani Villanueva sa kanyang co-sponsorship speech para sa Senate Bill No. 2421 na magbibigay ng karagdagang benepisyo sa mga healthcare workers tulad ng special risk allowance, hazard pay, at iba pa.

"Simula noong hindi pa po natin nauunawaan ang kabuuang problemang dala ng COVID-19, noong akala nating matatapos ang lockdown sa loob ng dalawang linggo, di alintana sa ating mga healthcare workers ang panganib at tumugon sila kaagad sa kani-kanilang mga duty," dagdag ni Villanueva, chairman ng Senate labor committee.

"Sa puntong ito, tapatan natin ng mga konkretong aksyon at benepisyo ang sakripisyo ng ating mga health care worker na binibigay ang sarili nila nang buong-buo para labanan ang COVID-19," aniya.

Ayon sa datos ng Department of Health, mayroong 25,411 na medical at nonmedical frontline workers ang nahawa sa COVID-19, at 366 rito ay kasalukuyang active case.

Maliban sa mga medical frontliners, kasama rin ang mga nonmedical healthcare workers na exposed sa panganib ng nakakahawang sakit. Kabilang sa hanay ng mga nonmedical healthcare workers ang mga barangay health workers, administration staff, utility and social workers, dietary staff, security guards, drivers at maging ang iba pang hospital employees, paliwanag ng mambabatas.

Ang sitwasyon nila ay nagiging mas mabigat pa sa staffing issues na nararanasan ng mga ospital dahil may ilan sa kanilang hanay ang pinipiling mag-resign o mag-retiro dahil sa pagod at overwork.

"Ang tanging hiling lang po natin ay masigurong natatanggap ng ating healthcare workers ang kanilang benepisyo na kanilang pinagtrabahuhan. Wala na po sanang delay sa pagbabahagi nito dahil pinagtrabahuhan nila ang bawat sentimo nito," ani Villanueva.

Kasama sa benepisyo na nais ibahagi sa mga healthcare workers ang COVID risk allowance, kompensasyon para sa mga magkakasakit ng COVID, regular na testing, at full Philhealth coverage, ayon kay Villanueva. Giit pa ng mambabatas, kailangan rin na malinaw ang schedule ng pagbabahagi ng mga benepisyo.