Nograles explains why hazard pay for public employees is unlikely to return amid surge of COVID cases
Hazard pay for government workers is not likely to return under the current alert level system placed in the country amid the surging cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Malacañang said.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles explained in a press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that the hazard pay intended for government workers was implemented when the country was placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and with the new alert level system, only the highest level--alert level 5--would warrant such policy.
"Well, let’s remember that when that was decided upon, we were under ECQ and I believe MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) din na-cover din (was also covered), that was when iyong malawakang (the extensive) lockdowns were being done," Nograles said.
"We have thus since then shifted to alert level system, the highest of which is Alert Level System 5. So, wala pa naman tayong lugar na (we still don't have an area placed) in Alert Level System 5," he stressed.
The Cabinet Secretary, however, said he doesn't want to preempt whatever decision President Duterte will make over the matter.
"So let’s continue to monitor whatever developments there are. But again, this is not something that we would wish to happen. And when I say that, it’s not just government, hindi lamang ang inyong national government, hindi lamang ang LGUs gaya ng sinasabi ko at sinasabi natin parati (it's not just the LGUs like what we always say), it’s a shared responsibility," he said.
Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan have been placed under alert level 3 due to the increasing COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the year.
Nograles said this is "a signal to all of us to be extra, extra careful, extra, extra vigilant."
"Ang target dapat natin (Our target) is not to elevate it even higher. And as much as possible, avoid that others areas become elevated as well. Iyon ang target natin (That's our target), iyon ang objective po nating lahat (that's our objective)," he added.
The Philippines recorded 10,775 new confirmed cases of the viral disease on Jan. 5. It was the first time a five-digit new infections number was recorded since October 2021.
READ MORE: PH sees over 10K new COVID-19 cases