The country's health frontliners will be receiving their benefits as soon as possible.
President Duterte has ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to prioritize the release of benefits due to the country's health workers if there is enough government money.
In a televised address Monday, August 16, Duterte told Duque to ignore the Commission on Audit (COA), pay the incentives for the health workers as well as proceed with the purchase of medicines needed in the fight against the pandemic.
"By the way, itong frontliners unahin mo na lang. If there is enough money, bayaran mo (put the frontliners first. If there is enough money, pay them)," Duterte said.
"Tsaka 'yung mga medisina ulit utangin mo. Huwag mong sundin 'yang COA. P***** i** 'yang COA-COA na 'yan. Wala namang mangyari diyan (Also, borrow money for the medicines. Do not follow COA. That son of a b*** COA. Nothing ever happens there)," he said.
Some groups of health workers from both public and private hospitals have complained about the delay in the release of their allowance and removal of some benefits such as meal, transportation and accommodation allowances. The country's law mandates the release of hazard pay and special risk allowance to the health workers.
The Alliance of Health Workers earlier reportedly threatened to launch a mass protest over the government's failure to heed their appeals for benefits due to the health professionals overworked during the pandemic.
The looming protest action comes after the audit commission flagged the health department's "deficiencies" in the use of P67.3 billion worth of funds for the country's pandemic response.