Sen. Christopher Go on Sunday renewed his call for the immediate release of COVID-19 allowances to health workers.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should expedite the release of COVID-19 allowances for healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against the ongoing pandemic and other health threats.
Recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of healthcare workers, Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, cited the urgent need to provide health workers with their well-deserved benefits in accordance with the law.
“Right now, as the declaration of a state of public health emergency has not been officially lifted, whatever has been allocated to health workers should be given to them,” Go said.
Under the 2023 budget, the government has allocated P19.962 billion for public health emergency benefits and allowances for healthcare and non-healthcare workers.
“There is also P52.962 billion unprogrammed funds which can be used by our health workers. This is also in the law,” Go said.
Go is also the vice chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee.
Even if the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 is eventually lifted, he noted that the government must ensure that allowances due to healthcare workers are provided to them.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte announced on March 8, 2020, a state of public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The declaration requires mandatory reporting, quarantine measures, and disease control prevention efforts.
According to DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has expressed his intention to lift the state of public health emergency related to COVID-19. Herbosa said they are awaiting a formal order regarding this decision.
If the declaration is revoked, it will also mean the discontinuation of the special allowance provided to healthcare workers who are taking care of COVID-19 patients.
However, Go expressed reservations on the lifting of the state of public emergency since the threat of COVID-19 still exists. He, however, stated that he leaves it to the health officials and experts to determine the best way forward toward pandemic recovery.