Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday commended President Duterte for signing into law Republic Act No. 11712 or the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act saying it would provide continuing support to the country’s health care workers amid the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.
Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and author and co-sponsor of the measure in the Senate, said the healthcare workers, both from the public and private sectors, can now enjoy continued benefits and allowances during the pandemic or other public health emergencies.
“Sila ang ating sinasabak sa pandemya na COVID-19, isang gyera kontra sa kalaban na hindi naman natin nakikita (They are the ones at the frontlines in our war against Covid-19, an enemy we cannot see),” Go said in a statement.
“Kaya naman nakakatuwa na mas lalo pa natin silang matutulungan sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito (That is why we are happy with its passage into law as we can effectively help them more with this law,” he added.
Under the law, public and private HCWs are entitled to health emergency allowance (HEA) for every month of service during a state of public health emergency based on the risk categorization.
For HCWs assigned in low risk areas, they will receive 3,000 while P 6,000 shall be given to those under medium risk areas.
Furthermore, those who will be working in high risk areas will be granted P 9,000, under the law.
In addition, HCWs who contract Covid-19 while on duty would be receiving separate compensation.
For those with mild to moderate symptoms, they will receive P 15,000 while individuals with severe symptoms or under a critical state will receive P100,000.
Meanwhile, for those who unfortunately succumb to the virus, the government will be giving P-million to the families they left behind.
“Lahat naman ng healthcare workers na naka-duty ay maituturing na exposed sa banta ng Covid-19. Hindi nakikita ang kalaban na ito kung kaya’t mahirap paghiwalayin pa kung sino ang exposed at sino ang hindi (All HCWs who are on duty are considered exposed to the threat of Covid-19. We can’t see the enemy that’s why it’s difficult to separate those who are exposed and those who are not),” explained Go on why he pushed to expand the provision of such benefits.
The law also covers non-health care workers (NHCWs) such as public and private medical, allied medical, administrative, technical, support and other necessary personnel employed by, and assigned in hospitals, health facilities, laboratories, medical or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities, or vaccination sites.
Likewise, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and outsourced personnel hired under institutional or individual contract of service or job order who are similarly exposed to COVID-19, or other threats in times of public health emergencies, are included as NHCWs under the law.
The benefits under this Act shall have retroactive application from July 1, 2021 and shall remain in full force and effect during the state of national public health emergency as declared by the President.