Members of the Tondo Medical Center Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers (TMCEA-AHW) staged a picket in front of the hospital, condemning the prolonged delay in the release of Covid-19 allowances and other benefits.
TMCEA-AHW president Bong Bulanadi Jr. issued a statement on Dec. 11, criticizing Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s declaration that the P62.9 billion unpaid Covid-19 Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) may not be disbursed until 2026.
"This is a grave injustice to all health workers, both in public and private hospitals, perpetrated by none other than the government. While Presidents Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have lauded us as heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic, our sacrifices seem forgotten when it comes to compensation," said Bulanadi.
The group also refuted Herbosa's claims that the delay was caused by a "lack of budget" due to a low turnout of taxes collected in 2021 to 2022.
"Confidential and intelligence funds are akin to pork barrel funds, yet when it comes to health workers' delayed benefits, suddenly there is no budget," AHW national president Robert Mendoza said.
The group also expressed concern over the proposed 2024 budget, as the increase in salaries for all government employees is not included.
AHW said this could lead to more government employees living below the poverty line and relying on loans or migration to meet basic needs as commodity and utility prices continue to rise rapidly.
Moreover, the group accused the government of deprioritizing social services for the people, citing a P10 billion cut in the health budget for 2024, which will limit public access to essential health services.
"Salaries for government civilian employees are pegged, and this raises questions about the government's priorities, especially leading up to the midterm elections. AHW challenges Secretary Herbosa to advocate for a 10 percent increase in the health budget as a percentage of GDP, ensuring decent salaries and benefits for health workers and the right of the people to free public health services," it said.