President Duterte has given the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 10 days to process the fund needed by the Department of Health (DOH) to compensate health care workers amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Duterte made the statement after several groups of medical professionals particularly from private hospitals complained about the non-release of their special risk allowance (SRA) and the removal of their other benefits.
In his pre-recorded public address aired Saturday morning, August 21, the President ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to pay the health care workers but recognized that the funds needed to be approved by the DBM first.
"I know that 'bayaran mo (pay them),' it is upon your request to the DBM. Hindi ikaw ang magkuha diyan sa bulsa mo para ibayad mo (It will not come out from your own pocket), correct?" Duterte asked Duque, to which the latter responded in the affirmative.
"I would like now, itong naghawak pera (those who handle the money), or authority, the DBM-- I'm giving you 10 days," he added.
Duterte even told the DBM to borrow personnel from the Commission on Audit (COA) to hasten the process.
"Wala kayong personnel? Borrow from other agencies or from saan. Magkuha kayo ng mga empleyado, o hiraman ninyo taga- COA (You don't have enough personnel Borrow from other agencies or wherever. Get some more employees or borrow from the COA)," he said.
During the arrival ceremony for the 1 million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government on August 20, the President assured health workers that the government will strive to repay them for their sacrifices and vowed to support them.
In his public address, Duterte ordered Duque to pay health care workers, including volunteers.
"I am now ordering, it's an order, Secretary Duque-- Use whatever money there is. Bayaran mo yung hinihingi ng mga nurses (Pay what the nurses are asking)-- both in government and those outside government na (who are) volunteers," he said.
"Bayaran mo lahat yung ano nila, the reklamo nila. Kasi totoo naman, eh (Pay everything they are complaining about. It is all true, anyway)," he added.
The President said he can use all money available in the DOH.
"I'm ordering you to use every money there," he said.
"Ipagbili mo ang departamento mo, marami ang magbili niyan (You can sell your department, many will want to buy that). You can sell the Department of Health para yung pera-- Bayaran mo lahat para wala nang ano (so the money-- Pay everyone so this will be over)... I'm ordering you, that's an order," he added.