Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Bong Go supports granting of hazard pay to government employees who work during community quarantine
Philippines
Bong Go supports granting of hazard pay to government employees who work during community quarantine
Bong Go supports granting of hazard pay to government employees who work during community quarantine
Published Mar 21, 2020 12:00 am
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed on Saturday (March 18) his support for the proposal to grant hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work during the period of community quarantine relative to the COVID-19 situation.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (MALACAÑANG PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“The government workers who still go to work during this time put their lives at risk, so they deserve proper compensation. The service that they are giving to the Filipino people is priceless. Granting them hazard pay is the least that we can do for them,” Go said.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado has requested President Duterte to issue an administrative order that will authorize national government agencies (NGAs), including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), to grant the hazard pay, not exceeding P500 per day.
Qualified for the hazard pay are those who occupy regular, contractual, or casual positions and contract of service and job order workers in the National Capital Region and other local government units.
Go said he also reached out to the President regarding the matter. “Tingin ko naman po ay papayag ang Pangulo sa kahilingang ito. Mahalaga sa kanya ang kapakanan ng ating mga frontliner.”
(I think the President will approve this request. The welfare of our frontliners is important to him.)
“Personnel who are already entitled to hazard pay, hazardous duty pay, hazard allowance, or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations such as public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID-19 hazard pay, whichever is higher,” the DBM recommends.
Go explained that personnel entitled to this must have been “authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices on the prescribed official working hours by the head of the agency or office.”
For NGAs, including SUCs, the hazard pay may be charged against their own funds without need for prior authority from the DBM. For GOCCs, the amount required may be charged against their budget and, in case, they do not have sufficient funds, they may grant a lower but uniform rate for all qualified personnel.
Hazard pay may be granted to employees in the Senate, House of Representatives, the judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and constitutional offices vested with fiscal autonomy.
Employees in local government units and local water districts may also be entitled to the hazard pay, but it may be at a lower but uniform rate in case of insufficient funds.
“Hindi natin mapipilit kung hindi kaya ng pondo na makaabot ng P500 ang hazard pay. Pero sana magawan ng paraan at maibigay sa lalong madaling panahon,” Go said. (We can't force it if there aren't enough funds to give P500 hazard pay. But I hope the means can be found and the hazard pay be given right away.)
“Sa mga panahong ito kung saan andiyan ang banta sa kalusugan at buhay ng ating mga mamamayan, pinili ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan na magsilbi sa bayan. Imbes na uunahin nila ang kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya, ninais nilang patuloy na magtrabaho sa kani-kanilang mga opisina upang hindi maputol ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan para sa lahat. Nararapat lamang na kilalanin at bigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang mga sakripisyong ito,” the Senator added.
(During this time of a threat to the health and lives of our citizens, these government workers chose to serve the country. Instead of putting the welfare of their families first, they desired to continue working in their respective offices in order that the delivery of government service would continue uninterrupted. It is only right that their sacrifice be recognized and given importance.)
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (MALACAÑANG PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“The government workers who still go to work during this time put their lives at risk, so they deserve proper compensation. The service that they are giving to the Filipino people is priceless. Granting them hazard pay is the least that we can do for them,” Go said.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado has requested President Duterte to issue an administrative order that will authorize national government agencies (NGAs), including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), to grant the hazard pay, not exceeding P500 per day.
Qualified for the hazard pay are those who occupy regular, contractual, or casual positions and contract of service and job order workers in the National Capital Region and other local government units.
Go said he also reached out to the President regarding the matter. “Tingin ko naman po ay papayag ang Pangulo sa kahilingang ito. Mahalaga sa kanya ang kapakanan ng ating mga frontliner.”
(I think the President will approve this request. The welfare of our frontliners is important to him.)
“Personnel who are already entitled to hazard pay, hazardous duty pay, hazard allowance, or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations such as public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID-19 hazard pay, whichever is higher,” the DBM recommends.
Go explained that personnel entitled to this must have been “authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices on the prescribed official working hours by the head of the agency or office.”
For NGAs, including SUCs, the hazard pay may be charged against their own funds without need for prior authority from the DBM. For GOCCs, the amount required may be charged against their budget and, in case, they do not have sufficient funds, they may grant a lower but uniform rate for all qualified personnel.
Hazard pay may be granted to employees in the Senate, House of Representatives, the judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and constitutional offices vested with fiscal autonomy.
Employees in local government units and local water districts may also be entitled to the hazard pay, but it may be at a lower but uniform rate in case of insufficient funds.
“Hindi natin mapipilit kung hindi kaya ng pondo na makaabot ng P500 ang hazard pay. Pero sana magawan ng paraan at maibigay sa lalong madaling panahon,” Go said. (We can't force it if there aren't enough funds to give P500 hazard pay. But I hope the means can be found and the hazard pay be given right away.)
“Sa mga panahong ito kung saan andiyan ang banta sa kalusugan at buhay ng ating mga mamamayan, pinili ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan na magsilbi sa bayan. Imbes na uunahin nila ang kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya, ninais nilang patuloy na magtrabaho sa kani-kanilang mga opisina upang hindi maputol ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan para sa lahat. Nararapat lamang na kilalanin at bigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang mga sakripisyong ito,” the Senator added.
(During this time of a threat to the health and lives of our citizens, these government workers chose to serve the country. Instead of putting the welfare of their families first, they desired to continue working in their respective offices in order that the delivery of government service would continue uninterrupted. It is only right that their sacrifice be recognized and given importance.)