THE House Committee on Appropriations approved today a “substitute bill” that will grant “mandatory” benefits for all health care workers and barangay health workers nationwide during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises in the future.
During the committee hearing, the proposed “Public Health Emergency Benefits for Health Workers Act” that came from five House bills was approved “subject to style.”
Under the bill, “risk exposure” will be the basis in granting of the special risk allowance. For “low risk,” healthcare workers shall receive P3,000 per month; P6,000 for those under “medium risk” and P9,000 if “high risk.”
A total of P1 million is allocated for the family of the health care worker who will die of COVID-19 or any ailment during a public health emergency; P100,000 for severe o critical case; and P15,000 for mild or moderate case.
However, under the approved version, the committee accepted the recommendation to remove the active hazard duty pay, life insurance, and meals, accommodation, and transportation or MAT allowances.
Meanwhile, the Makabayan Bloc had “reservations” on the committee’s recommendations and said they will scrutinize these during the plenary session.
The position of the Department of Health (DOH) on the issue, according to DOH Asec. Mylene Beltran, is that the DOH supports the desire of the proposed measure for all health care workers, but proposes instead a “single allowance” or tje One COVID-19 Allowance.
Even the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) supports the bill but is also in favor of a single allowance instead of varying rates so that distribution will be much easier.
Needed funds to enable the measure will reach up to P50 billion, according to the DOH’s computation.