President Duterte has authorized the grant of hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ).
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Administrative Order (AO) 43 that ordered the grant of hazard pay on June 1, 2021.
In granting the hazard pay, President Duterte said in his AO that government employees whose services are urgently essential and who physically report for work during the ECQ and MECQ are inevitably exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection and other health hazards.
Based on the AO, national government agencies (NGAs) are authorized to grant coronavirus (COVID-19) Hazard Pay to personnel who physically report for work during the implementation of the two highest quarantine classifications in an amount not exceeding P500 per day per person.
The AO covers NGAs including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Heads of government agencies may grant the hazard pay to their personnel without the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as long as the personnel have been authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices or work stations on the prescribed official working hours by the head of the agency or office during the ECQ and MECQ period in the area of their workplace.
GOCCs are allowed to grant a lower but uniform rate to all qualified personnel if the GOCC has insufficient funds to fully cover the prescribed amount of the hazard pay. The amount shall be charged against a GOCC's approved corporate operating budgets (COBs) for the current fiscal year.
Hazard pay for LGU employees
Meanwhile, the hazard pay to employees in local government units (LGUs), including those in the barangays, who pysically report for work shall be determined by their respective Sanggunians depending on he LGU's financial capability. The amount shall not also exceed P500 per day per person.
Should LGUs have insufficient funds, a lower but uniform rate may also be granted for all qualified personnel.
The Philippines is under a State of Calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic until Septemer 12, 2021.