Health care frontliners will soon receive their active hazard duty pay (AHDP) as they continue to fight through the pandemic thanks to the order signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 16.
This comes more than two months after Duterte signed Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2), .
In signing the Administrative Order No. 35, Duterte recognized that human resources for health (HRHs) physically report to the frontlines in the fulfillment of their duties, and are inevitably exposed to health risks and hazards.
“National government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units are hereby authorized to grant AHDP up to PHP3,000 per month to frontline HRHs which shall be in addition to any Hazard Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Hazard Allowance, Special Risk Allowance or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations, and shall be exempt from income tax,” the AO read.
Under the AO, front line HRHs must physically report for work at their assigned work stations on the prescribed official working hours. The fund for the implementation of the AO will be sourced from the PHP13.5 billion appropriated under Bayanihan 2.
The Department of Budget and Management, in coordination with the Department of Health, will issue the guidelines necessary for the effective implementation of the order.
