The chairperson of the House Committee on Health has thanked President Duterte for enacting the "Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act", which she deemed vital to the welfare of healthcare workers.
A statement from the office of Quezon 4th district Rep. Angelina "Helen" Tan on Sunday, Labor Day, May 1, said that Republic Act (RA) No.11712 allows for the grant of continuous benefits for healthcare workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic as well as other public health emergencies that may happen in the future.
It was recently signed by President Duterte. Tan, a gubernatorial candidate in Quezon province, served as one of the authors of the measure.
“Lubos ang aking katuwaan na matapos ang mahabang usapin at sa harap ng maraming hinaing ng ating mga healthcare workers ay mabibigyan na sila ng patuloy na mga benepisyo sa panahon ng Covid-19 at iba pang mga pandemya na maaaring maganap (I am happy that after long discussions and hearing the many complaints of our heathcare workers, they are assured of continuous benefits in this time of Covid-19 and in other possible pandemics in the future)," Tan said.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang pagtaguyod sa ating mga workers sa health sector. Ito ay mahalagang regalo sa ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan lalo na sa paggunita ng Labor Day sa bansa (I thank President Duterte for uplifting the workers in the health sector. This is an important gift to our healthcare workers especially with the commemoration of Labor Day in the country)," added the incumbent congresswoman.
Under the new law, all healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers will receive a monthly health emergency allowance under a pandemic like that of Covid-19. The stipend will depend of their category of risk exposure.
Those working in low-risk areas will receive P3,000 in monthly allowance; medium-risk areas, P6,000; and high-risk areas, P9,000.
Aside from this, RA No.11712 also provides additional benefits for workers stricken with Covid-19 in the line of duty. In case the worker dies, P1 million will be to his or her survivors. Meanwhile, P100,000 and P15,000 will be given to workers who had severe and mild cases, respectively.
Full PhilHealth coverage will also given to all healthcare and non-healthcare workers.
These benefits will have a retroactive application up to July 1, 2021 and will remain while there is a national public health emergency as declared by the sitting president.