Sen. Bong Go, on Friday, 3 February, said that he respects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision not to extend the state of calamity over COVID-19.
Nonetheless, he urged the government to ensure the unhampered delivery of pandemic recovery programs while providing the benefits and compensation owed to healthcare workers under the law.
“Ako naman, iginagalang po natin ang pasya ng ating Pangulong Marcos na ‘wag na pong i-extend ang state of calamity,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding fire victims in Valenzuela City.
“At ayon naman po sa batas, ‘yung inaprubahang batas na One COVID Allowance ay habang nasa state of public health emergency tayo ay pwedeng magbigay ng allowances or risk allowance para sa mga frontliners natin. Ang importante po sa ngayon, maibibigay po ng gobyerno,” he added.
Go is referring to Republic Act No. 11712 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte last year which aims to provide healthcare workers continuing support amid the ongoing global health crisis.
The Act, which Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate, grants mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies.
Public and private HCWs covered by the law are entitled to health emergency allowance for every month of service during a state of public health emergency based on the risk categorization.
In addition, the healthcare workers will be receiving separate compensation if they contract COVID-19 while on duty.
For those with mild to moderate symptoms, they will receive PhP15,000 while individuals with severe symptoms or under a critical state will receive PhP100,000. For those who unfortunately succumb to the virus, the government will be giving PhP1,000,000 to the families they left behind.
Go asked the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management to make sure that healthcare workers continue to receive the allowances and benefits they are entitled to while they deal with the lingering threats of COVID-19.