A measure has been filed in the Senate seeking additional benefits for public and private health workers directly catering to patients affected by a disease causing a public health emergency like COVID-19.
Six additional benefits are being pushed under the proposed Healthcare Frontliners Protection Act, filed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
“Ang ating frontliners ang pangunahing depensa ng bansa tuwing public health emergency. Ngunit nakita natin kung gaano kakupad ang pagbibigay ng kanilang hazard pay. Hindi pwede ang mabagal kapag may emergency," he said.
"Dahil dito, gusto nating pagtibayin ang kanilang mga benepisyo at pabilisin ang pagbibigay nito,” he added.
Under the measure, healthcare frontliners will be provided a monthly special risk allowance in the whole duration of the state of national emergency.
They will also be given an active hazard duty pay which is 25% of their daily salary rate based on the number of days they physically report for work.
Aside from the risk allowance and hazard benefits, healthcare frontliners will also be entitled to the following:
- Payment of all medical expenses in case of exposure to the disease or any work-related injury
- Compensation for those who contracted the disease in the line of duty
- Free life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals
- Provision of Personal Protective Equipment and free and regular testing
Compensation covers sickness of mild and moderate nature (P15,000), severe or critical sickness (P100,000), and death (P1 million).
“Naging malinaw ngayong COVID ang kakulangan sa ating health care system lalo na sa pag-aalaga at pagpapahalaga sa ating mga frontliners. Umaasa kami na ang batas na ito ay magsisigurong hindi lang pagsasabi ng 'thank you' ang matatanggap nila,” Pangilinan said.
"It is the government's duty to properly and promptly compensate our frontliners in recognition of their service," he added.