The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the pronouncement of President Duterte that the government will try to look for more funds in order to recruit more healthcare workers amid the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We welcome this remark from our President. Our healthcare workers serve as the backbone of our COVID-19 response, as such the Department of Health fully supports the provision of appropriate benefits to our healthcare workers,” the DOH said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 16.
During his televised public address on Thursday, President Duterte said that a good salary can “lure” more healthcare workers to help in the fight against the pandemic.
“Baka (Maybe) we can convince more people to join us in this fight because I think the --- the lure of a good salary is there,” said Duterte.
“We will see what we can do. We will try to look for the money to have more recruits joining this fight against COVID,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DOH said it is currently “lobbying for our 2022 budget to provide additional funds for the hiring and benefits of our healthcare workers.”
“The DOH is also actively lobbying for the passage of laws that will ensure that grant of healthcare workers’ benefits beyond the coverage period of Bayanihan 2,” the Health department said.