President Rodrigo Duterte gave authorities until Tuesday, June 9 to provide the benefits for health workers who died or got infected with COVID-19 mandated by the Bayanihan law.
This was after the Senate lawmakers expressed their dismay over the inaction of government agencies regarding the deaths of over 30 health workers due to COVID-19.
“Hanggang Martes lang po ang ibinigay ng Presidente para sa lahat ng kinauukulan na ibigay ang mga compensation benefits sa mga healthworkers na nagkasakit ng COVID-19 in the line of duty at sa pamilya ng mga namatay na health workers,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated.
[The President is giving authorities until Tuesday to give the compensation benefits of health workers that got sick with COVID-19 while in the line of duty, and aid for the families of health workers who died.]
The Bayanihan to Heal As One Act has a provision where public and private health workers who contract severe COVID-19 infection while in the line of duty will receive a compensation of P100,000 and those who die “while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic” will be given P1 million, through their families.
There are currently 32 health workers — 4 nurses, 26 were doctors and 2 non-medical staff — who died due to COVID-19, the Department of Health said.
The inaction was blamed for the lack of Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The agencies have yet to comment on the Joint Administrative Order on the matter.
