Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Give health workers more reasons to stay, serve in PH—Revilla tells gov't
Philippines
National
Give health workers more reasons to stay, serve in PH—Revilla tells gov't
Give health workers more reasons to stay, serve in PH—Revilla tells gov't
Published May 4, 2023 12:45 am
Senator Ramon ‘’Bong’’ Revilla Jr. said on Thursday, May 4, that the government should focus on crafting policies that would make health workers choose to stay and work in the country instead of restricting them from leaving. There are talks on the one-year mandatory medical service being pushed in Congress that would require health care workers to render service before being able to apply for a job abroad, “Let us give them more reasons to stay in our country instead of restricting them to leave,” Revilla said. He disclosed that many health care workers are having difficulty in securing a decent job in the country that leave them with no choice but to seek greener pastures in other countries. He said that some Filipino health care workers even resort to paying hospitals for ‘training’ so that they will be accommodated to be employed. “Ang ating mga health care workers, mga makabagong bayani natin yan eh (Our health workers are our new heroes). They have already proven this time and again, especially during the pandemic that we went through,’’ he explained. Revilla is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation that deliberates on bills pertaining to the welfare of the country’s civil servants and professionals. He filed Senate Bill 1429 or the “Kalusugan Ang Prayoridad Act of 2022” as early as last year, which seeks to grant institutionalized benefits for all public and private health care workers. Under the Revilla’s legislative measure, health care workers shall be entitled to the grant of 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) on the purchase of medicines which include influenza and pneumococcal vaccines and other essential medical supplies, accessories, and equipment. The proposed law shall cover not only medical workers but also those personnel functioning as administrative, technical, support, and other necessary staff employed by and assigned in hospitals, health facilities, laboratories, and medical treatment and monitoring facilities. Moreover, Revilla also filed Senate Bill 2018 which seeks to legislate an additional daily wage increase in the sum of P150 for all workers in the private sector regardless of the capitalization, number of employees, and location of the employer. If enacted, this would benefit health care workers in private health care facilities. During the 18th Congress, Revilla also principally authored Republic Act No. 11701 which now grants night shift differential pay to government employees including public health care workers who are usually needed to work until late evening. They are already receiving an additional pay not exceeding 20 percent of their hourly basic rate.