Philippines
PRRD, 200 solons, Manila gov't officials donate salaries for COVID-19 fight
PRRD, 200 solons, Manila gov't officials donate salaries for COVID-19 fight
By Genalyn Kabiling, Ben Rosario, Joseph Almer Pedrajas, and Jel Santos
President Duterte has decided to donate his one-month salary to the government’s efforts combat to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
The President made the gesture after many Cabinet members offered to cut by 75 percent their monthly salaries from April to December this year, according to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.
Nearly 200 congressmen have also agreed to give up their next month’s salary for the same purpose.
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House of Representatives is expected to raise P50 million by May, with the majority, if not all, 306 of its members expected to pitch in.
Top officials of the local government of Manila will also be donating their salaries for the month of April to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to help the facility in its fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said about P4.7 million, the combined worth of the salaries of the city mayor, vice mayor, councilors, and a couple of congressmen, will be turned over to the PGH this month.
The Manila public information office made the announcement Saturday night, saying it is the officials’ “way of showing unity and compassion” to the country’s health workers.
“In our own little way, we hope that this can strengthen the capacity of our frontliners, particularly those in the health sector, ,” Moreno said.
Moreno said among those who pledged to donate their salaries include Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, House Minority Leader Rep. Benny Abante, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, and councilors Manny Lopez, Rolan Valeriano, and Yul Servo Nieto.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, spokesman of the COVID19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), said last Saturday that Cabinet members have agreed to give up their one-month salary to donate to the programs that will help government quell the COVID-19 pandemic. Cayetano said that aside from their own contributions, they will also solicit help from friends to raise another P50 million if the COVID-19 fight extends until June.
The amount raised by lawmakers will be allocated for supplies for frontliners who have risked their personal health in order to help those afflicted with COVID-19.
The House leader said congressmen have not only given up their salaries to donate to the anti-coronavirus cause. Many of them have used their personal money to help their constituents.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has transferred P420 million to PhilHealth to help shoulder the medical expenses of COVID-19 patients.
PhilHealth recently announced that it will shoulder the full cost of COVID-19 treatments until April 14, 2020, adding that it will issue new guidelines for COVID-19 packages based on accepted protocols.
PCSO General Manager Royina Marzan-Garma said its contribution will reinforce the capability of PhilHealth to respond to the pandemic.
“For COVID-19 patients and their families who battle with uncertainty, knowing that the cost of hospitalization is one less worry is a big relief,” she said.
Garma said the money they are giving to help in the battle against COVID-19 comes from the generous PCSO gaming enthusiasts.
“To the PCSO gaming enthusiasts, this is your money. Every time a ticket is purchased, 30 percent of the amount automatically goes to the PCSO Charity Fund. That’s why even if you do not bag the jackpot prize or any of the prizes, you are still a winner by helping your fellow Filipinos through the various charity programs of PCSO,” she said.